Kolkata: Senior officials of the Building department of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will visit the Traders Assembly building on Monday to assess the quantum of damage of the structure.
Mayor Firhad Hakim who visited the spot on Sunday morning said the debris will be cleared once the forensic experts collect the samples from the site. The preliminary investigation by the civic officials show that cracks have appeared in different parts of the building. The officials will see whether the adjoining building has also been affected or not.
The officials said the maintenance of the building is poor. It has not be painted for several years and the cracks that had already appeared on the structure have not been repaired. The fire has widened the cracks. Also, the structural stability of the building will be tested. It may be recalled that the civic authorities had urged the owners of the buildings that are more than 50-years-old to examine the health of the houses by empanelled structural engineers. But few owners have obeyed the KMC's request. "Once the heat is controlled, we will examine the structure and then take decision whether the burnt out portions will be pulled down or not," said a senior civic official. They felt that the health audit of all the private markets that are more than 30-years-old should be conducted and necessary steps should be taken.