'Big political names may be connected': Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Taratala incident

The incident on Wednesday killed 5 people and left 20 injured.

As three persons, including a building supervisor and two labour suppliers, were arrested in the case, Ghosh suggested that there may be "big political names" connected to the under-construction godown shed.

"An inquiry will be done into the corruption, and the culprits will be punished. Our government has started this work; no one will be spared. Not just four people, there may be other big political names connected to the incident. Everything will be revealed. Outside labourers are being made to work, and innocent people are losing lives; it is unfortunate," the West Bengal Minister told the reporters.

Ghosh said that the state government has initiated a probe into the mishap, and the culprits will be punished.

"During the CPM period, every market in Bengal caught fire. Large markets burned to the ground, countless people lost their lives, and property worth thousands of crores was destroyed. Bridges and flyovers collapsing were common during the TMC's rule. Several people died, and there was property loss in the Burrabazar flyover collapse. This (Taratala mishap) was also an example of corruption. How did such a big construction collapse? If it had been completed and people had been residing here, how many lives would have been lost?," he added.

According to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the death toll in the incident had risen to five, while 20 people sustained injuries. Of the injured, 18 were said to be out of danger.

"Death toll stands at five. A total of 20 people are injured, of whom two are in ICCU, and 18 are out of danger," the Chief Minister told reporters after visiting the injured at SSKM Hospital on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at around 12:07 pm on Tuesday.

The Indian Army and the NDRF are carrying out the rescue operation at the site of the accident. (ANI)