kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, June 25: Police have arrested warehouse owner Shambhunath Behera in connection with the tragic collapse of a warehouse shed in Taratala that claimed several lives and left many others trapped beneath the debris. According to police sources, Behera was apprehended shortly after midnight on Wednesday from a residential complex in the Taratala area.

Authorities have registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the warehouse owner on their own initiative as the investigation into the deadly incident gathers pace. Following the collapse, police detained nearly nine individuals, including the warehouse supervisor, and questioned them extensively at Taratala Police Station. After several hours of interrogation, five people, including Behera, were formally arrested.

The other accused include structural engineer Kamal Samanta, warehouse supervisor Syed Mohammad Gulzar, labour supplier Mohammad Ataul, and Subhas Sarkar. Investigators are examining whether negligence in construction, maintenance, safety standards or operational practices contributed to the collapse of the structure.

Rescue operations continued on Thursday morning as personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) remained engaged in a massive effort to locate and rescue those still feared trapped beneath the wreckage. Officials believe that several people may still be inside the collapsed structure.

A hydraulic crane has been deployed at the site to stabilize and support sections of the damaged warehouse framework while rescue workers carefully remove debris and search for survivors. The operation has been proceeding with extreme caution due to concerns about further structural instability.

So far, rescue teams have pulled out a total of 29 people from the accident site. Among them, seven individuals have been confirmed dead, while the remaining rescued persons have been shifted for medical treatment and observation. The condition of some of the injured is reported to be critical.

The warehouse collapse has sparked serious concerns regarding workplace safety and structural compliance in industrial facilities across the city. Authorities have assured that a detailed investigation will be carried out to determine responsibility for the tragedy and ensure accountability for any lapses that may have contributed to the disaster. Rescue efforts are expected to continue until officials are certain that no one remains trapped under the debris.