Contractor who died in Kolkata warehouse collapse had links with Trinamool

Photographs show contractor Asgar Hossain with Firhad Hakim at several events before the Taratala collapse. The images surfaced as investigators examined construction approvals, supervision and possible compliance lapses.

In Short

• 3-storey warehouse collapsed in Taratala on Wednesday afternoon
• Eight people died and around 20 others were injured in the crash
• Army, NDRF, SDRF, police and fire services joined the rescue effort

India Today has accessed photographs showing Asgar Hossain, the contractor who died in the building collapse in Kolkata's Taratala area, in the company of senior Trinamool Congress leader and former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim at multiple events.

The images indicate repeated appearances together at political and private gatherings over time, pointing to a previously unreported association now drawing attention in the wake of the fatal accident. Hossain was involved in the construction of the warehouse that collapsed in Kolkata's Taratala area on Wednesday, killing 8 people.

The disclosure came as officials examine possible lapses in construction approvals, supervision and compliance linked to the project.

At least 8 people were killed and around 20 others injured after a three-storey under-construction warehouse collapsed on Wednesday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and fire services.

Huge iron beams and concrete slabs crashed down while construction work was underway, burying scores of workers under the rubble.

Rescue teams pulled out 25 workers from the debris and shifted them to hospitals. 8 were declared dead, while 20 are under treatment. Of those injured, 18 are stable and two remain critical.

Officials said between 40 and 50 labourers were likely working inside the structure when it came down, though the exact figure is still being verified.

Police have arrested five people in connection with the incident, including the project supervisor, iron structure fabricator, land lessee, a labour supplier and a broker allegedly linked to securing civic approvals. They have been identified as Gulzar Hussain, Kamal Samanto, Sambhunath Behera, Dibakar Bhandari and Abdul Hamid.

No response has been issued so far by Firhad Hakim or the Trinamool Congress on the photographs or the alleged association.

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