Kolkata delays demolition of 5-storey Garden Reach building

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) announced that the planned demolition of a damaged five-storey building in Garden Reach, adjacent to the illegal one that collapsed last Sunday night, resulting in 12 fatalities, had to be postponed due to strong opposition from residents. The residents insisted on receiving alternative accommodation and detailed plans for rehabilitation before vacating the premises. KMC had made the decision to demolish the building following extensive damage caused by the collapse of the adjacent structure. Despite their efforts to persuade the occupants and locals about the necessity of demolishing the building, KMC officials were unable to proceed with the demolition. Consequently, they decided to suspend the operation for the day and reschedule it for later in the month. The building located at J-560/D Azhar Molla Bagan Lane is among the 16 unsafe structures identified by KMC in the area following last week's tragic incident. According to civic sources, this particular building was deemed the most precarious. It comprises 12 apartments, each housing a family. A KMC official stated, We had issued prior notice to the residents of the building, emphasizing the urgent need to demolish the unsafe sections to ensure the safety of both residents and others residing in the narrow, dimly lit lane. However, upon arriving to initiate the demolition, the residents and nearby individuals suddenly became hostile, preventing the workers from commencing the demolition. We had no choice but to retreat and call off the operation for the day.