Kolkata, June 25 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh from the state exchequer for the families of those killed in the under-construction warehouse roof collapse incident in Taratala area on Wednesday, which claimed nine lives and left several others critically injured.

CM Adhikari said this while issuing a statement on the floor of the Assembly on Thursday and also announced a compensation of Rs 1,00,000 for those injured in the mishap.

Already, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2,00,000 from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the mishap. The PMO has also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for each of those injured in the collapse.

Thereafter, CM Adhikari gave details of the developments since Wednesday afternoon following the under-construction warehouse roof collapse.

“The rescue operation started within 30 minutes from the time of the accident. Kolkata Police, state fire services department and the local people started the initial rescue operations. Later personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and the India Army also joined the rescue operations, The rescue operations continued throughout the night on Wednesday and it is still continuing,” the Chief Minister.

Speaking on the floor of the House, CM Adhikari also confirmed the death of nine people so far in the mishap. “The rest are undergoing treatment. However, several people are still trapped under the rubble. Their rescue work is still on,” the Chief Minister said.

He also detailed how the rescue operations continue on Wednesday under supervision of his senior colleagues in the state Cabinet.

“On behalf of the state government, sports minister Indranil Khan and municipal affairs & urban development minister Agnimitra Pal reached the spot first. Then the state fire services minister, Kaushik Chowdhury reached the spot, followed by the state health minister, Sharadwat Mukherjee and others.

“I was monitoring from the beginning. However, my immediate arrival there could have created obstacles in the rescue work, I went in the afternoon after initially managing the situation. I also went to the hospital. I spoke to the injured persons,” the Chief Minister said.

–IANS

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