Building Collapse in Central Kolkata — Central Kolkata witnessed a series of structural failures on Friday morning after heavy monsoon rains triggered the partial collapse of a portion of the historic Bowbazar Market and nearby buildings in north and central Kolkata. While no casualties were reported, the incidents have reignited serious concerns about the fragile condition of old buildings across the city.
Three Collapses in One Morning
Around 9:30 AM, a section of the first floor of Bowbazar Market on Nirmal Chandra Street gave way, sending debris crashing down. Just minutes later, a balcony on the first floor of a commercial building on BB Ganguly Street collapsed, followed by a wall cave-in on the third floor of a residential building near Girish Park.
Though no one was injured in any of the incidents, the timing—during active morning business hours—has raised alarms about the risks to public safety. Most shops inside Bowbazar Market were shut at the time due to the rain, averting what could have been a mass casualty situation.
Shop owners at Bowbazar blamed the collapse on years of neglect. “We have raised concerns multiple times. The building is in a horrible state. No repairs have been done for years because of ownership disputes,” said a vendor.
Kolkata’s Aging Infrastructure Under Strain
These incidents are the latest in a series of building-related emergencies in Kolkata, particularly in Boroughs IV to VI, which include neighborhoods like Bowbazar, Chitpore, Taltala, and Ripon Street. These areas have the highest concentration of unsafe structures, many of which are over a century old.
According to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), nearly 70% of the city’s unsafe buildings are concentrated in these three boroughs. Many have remained occupied despite repeated warnings and even eviction notices issued by the civic body.
Repeated exposure to monsoon rains, lack of structural maintenance, illegal alterations, and disputes between landlords and tenants have left these buildings dangerously vulnerable to collapse.
Heritage or Hazard? The Preservation Debate
Bowbazar Market, originally built during the British era, is a heritage structure housing over 500 shops. While its historical value is undeniable, its structural safety has long been questioned.
Preservationists argue for restoration over demolition, but shopkeepers and residents say the crumbling condition of the market demands immediate intervention. “We don’t want to lose our place of business, but we don’t want to die inside it either,” said another shopkeeper.
This tension between heritage conservation and structural safety has become a recurring issue in Kolkata. Many buildings have not undergone retrofitting or structural audits in decades, even while housing hundreds of people and businesses.
Building Collapse in Central Kolkata: Why Repairs Are Stalled
KMC officials and local councillors have pointed out that many of these buildings are stuck in legal limbo. With ownership disputes unresolved and tenants unwilling or unable to move, civic authorities often find their hands tied.
Moreover, the city’s real estate market and tenancy laws discourage landlords from investing in costly repairs or redevelopment due to poor returns from old rent-controlled buildings.
“The entire Bowbazar Market should be shut down and demolished. Every year we issue notices, but nothing is done,” said Ward 48 councillor Bishwarup Dey. “We are just lucky no one was hurt this time.”
Other High-Risk Areas in Focus
The collapses come at a time when the KMC is already under scrutiny for ignoring structural warnings across several buildings. In June 2025, parts of a building staircase in Pathuriaghata collapsed, and earlier this year, walls and floors cracked in buildings along Durga Pituri Lane, allegedly due to East-West Metro construction work.
Similar collapses and tilting structures have also been reported in Janbazar and Burrabazar. Fire risks have increased due to illegal electrical wiring in these congested areas, further compounding the threat to residents and shop owners.
Urban Planning Crisis and the Way Forward
Urban experts warn that Kolkata is facing a deep-rooted crisis in infrastructure planning and risk mitigation. They suggest the following immediate and long-term measures:
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Mandatory Structural Audits before and after monsoon for all pre-1950s buildings.
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Incentivized Relocation plans to encourage tenants to vacate dangerous buildings.
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Creation of a Heritage Repair Fund co-managed by the KMC and state government.
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Legal Reform to enable swifter resolution of landlord-tenant disputes.
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Public-Private Partnerships for safe restoration of markets like Bowbazar.
Public Reaction and Government Response
Residents in the affected areas expressed frustration over the lack of action. “How many times must a building fall before authorities wake up?” asked a man whose shop was shuttered due to the Bowbazar collapse.
Emergency personnel and KMC engineers visited all three sites to assess structural damage. Temporary barricades have been installed, and further inspections are underway.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticized the state government’s urban policy failure. Some have called for an independent audit of all central Kolkata buildings over 50 years old.
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