Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Jorabagan Collapse Kills Woman Amid Rain, Raises Safety Concerns
A very old building in Jorabagan partly fell down early Tuesday morning.
A woman named Urmila Shaw was inside and died when rubble crushed her.
Her older son escaped, and other family members were away.
Officials said the building had large cracks and that heavy rain may have helped cause the collapse.
Other residents were taken out safely.
On the same day, part of another old building in Posta also fell.
Seven people were rescued from that building, and nobody was hurt.
The incidents have raised concerns about many unsafe buildings in Kolkata.
A 53-year-old woman, Urmila Shaw, died after part of her Jorabagan home collapsed early Tuesday.
Her elder son escaped, while her husband and younger son were away when the collapse occurred.
A Kolkata Municipal Corporation engineer said the 150- to 200-year-old building had wide cracks and that relentless rain may have triggered the collapse.
About 15 other residents were evacuated from the Jorabagan building; seven people trapped in a separate Posta collapse were rescued without injuries.
The deaths of two people in building collapses within days have renewed attention on nearly 2,000 dilapidated structures in Kolkata.
- Who
- Urmila Shaw, a 53-year-old resident, died; other residents were evacuated, and seven people were rescued from a separate collapse.
- What
- A portion of an old, cracked building collapsed in Jorabagan, killing Shaw; another building section collapsed in Posta without causing injuries.
- When
- Early Tuesday morning, after another building-collapse death in Tollygunge on Sunday.
- Where
- Brojodulal Street in Jorabagan and Shikdar Para Lane in Posta, Kolkata.
- Why
- A Kolkata Municipal Corporation engineer said the Jorabagan building’s age and wide cracks made it vulnerable, while relentless rain appeared to be the immediate trigger.
Structural Neglect and Enforcement
Weather and Resident Constraints
Cause of the Jorabagan collapse
Structural Neglect and Enforcement
The building was 150 to 200 years old, had wide cracks, and had been identified by KMC engineers as a crumbling, condemned structure.
Weather and Resident Constraints
A KMC engineer said relentless rain on Tuesday appeared to be the immediate trigger for the collapse.
Responsibility for safety
Structural Neglect and Enforcement
KMC engineers said owners and occupants are notified to repair or vacate unsafe buildings, and residents need to understand the need for repairs.
Weather and Resident Constraints
KMC officials acknowledged that residents often do not agree to leave and said forcible eviction is rarely used.
Why evacuations are difficult
Structural Neglect and Enforcement
The law allows KMC to remove residents from dilapidated buildings when necessary.
Weather and Resident Constraints
KMC said it generally does not forcibly evict residents because it lacks alternative buildings to house them for months or years.
- Fatality
- Urmila Shaw, aged 53, was declared dead at Medical College Kolkata.
- Building age
- The Jorabagan building was estimated to be 150 to 200 years old.
- Evacuation
- About 15 residents were evacuated from the Jorabagan building.
- Separate rescue
- Seven people trapped in the Posta collapse were rescued without injuries.
- Dilapidated structures
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation sources said nearly 2,000 such structures exist in the city.
- Recent related death
- A 57-year-old man died after a building portion collapsed in Tollygunge on Sunday.
- KMC notices
- The civic body said it issues repair notices and, where necessary, notices asking occupants to leave.