Youth dies after building collapses in Entally

Kolkata: A 26-year-old youth was killed after a portion of an old dilapidated building fell on him on Tuesday morning.

He was taken to Nilratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Salam who was a pavement dweller.

A portion of the roof of an old two storeyed dilapidated and abandoned building on Convent Road in Entally area fell on the deceased who was sitting infront of the house. It belongs to a closed pharmaceutical company and has remained deserted for many years now.

Attracted by a loud noise, local people went to the spot and found the person trapped inside the debris. They informed the Fire brigade and police. Personnel of the Fire and Emergency Services department and police came to the spot and extricated Salam. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced brought dead.

A senior official of the building department of Kolkata Municipal Corporation said most of the old dilapidated buildings have not been maintained for decades resulting in clogging of the rainwater pipes.

This causes accumulation of rainwater in the roof. The pillars fail to bear the additional weight collapse. He said there are more than 1000 old buildings in the city whose owners could not be traced and the structures could not be pulled down by the civic authorities as these are private property.