Kolkata, July 4 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday felicitated the rescue teams involved in the recent Taratala warehouse roof collapse incident at a special thanksgiving ceremony. At the same time, he announced a special fund of Rs 200 crore to make the state’s disaster management system stronger and more modern in the future.

The Chief Minister highly appreciated the speed with which the rescue operation was carried out following the Taratala incident on June 24. He described the joint efforts of the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Civil Defence, Fire Services, Health Department and Kolkata Police as extraordinary teamwork.

Thanking every soldier and worker involved in the rescue operation, the Chief Minister said in his speech, “You all have saved the precious lives of our 17 workers. For that, I express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart.”

On June 24, as many as 16 workers died when the roof of an under-construction warehouse collapsed on Transport Depot Road in the Taratala area of south Kolkata. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that he had initially learnt from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) that the accident was caused by a flaw in the construction design.

The owner of the company constructing the warehouse on land leased from the Kolkata Port Authority, the OSD to the former Mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and several others have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The Chief Minister on Saturday outlined in detail the measures proposed to ensure that the state is better prepared to deal with disasters in the future. He said that a special provision of Rs 200 crore has been made in this year’s budget for the purchase of modern equipment for rescue operations and for infrastructure development.

He said that not only would modern equipment be procured, but a special team of skilled personnel would also be created. The Chief Minister announced that a dedicated disaster response unit comprising at least 200 ex-Army personnel and firefighters would be formed. They would be deployed primarily in the hills, Sagar Island and Kolkata after receiving advanced training.

Assuring that the shortcomings of the state’s disaster response force, fire brigade and police Disaster Management Group (DMG) cell would be addressed quickly, the Chief Minister said, “This government will fill them within the next one year and work to take Bengal on the path of progress in all aspects.”

Along with the rescue agencies, the Chief Minister also specially acknowledged the contribution of the local residents of Taratala. He said that the local youth who joined hands with the corporation and began rescue efforts before the fire brigade or police arrived were the real saviours.

Saluting those ordinary citizens from the stage, Suvendu Adhikari promised that he would personally visit the area in the coming days and thank the youth directly.

–IANS

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