Another Building Collapse in Bowbazar: Urgent Call for Metro Accountability

A building collapse in Kolkata's Bowbazar area left one person seriously injured, prompting criticism of Metro authorities. Despite previous reports of vibrations from nearby train operations and a history of collapses, residents' concerns were not addressed. Emergency services and authorities are currently managing the situation.

In a tragic incident on Sunday, a section of a building in Kolkata's Bowbazar area collapsed, leaving one person seriously injured. The collapse occurred around noon on Madan Dutta Lane, with the injured individual promptly hospitalized, according to police statements.

This incident has sparked controversy, particularly among residents who have previously reported vibrations from nearby Metro train operations. Local councillor Nayana Bandyopadhyay criticized the Metro authorities for their inaction, questioning why reported issues were ignored.

Authorities, including Kolkata Police Disaster Management and Metro Railways engineers, responded to the scene. A Kolkata Metro official downplayed the panic, attributing the collapse to rusted iron rods in the building's structure. Bowbazar has faced several similar incidents since 2019, raising concerns about infrastructure safety and accountability.

(With inputs from agencies.)