Kolkata building collapse: Another body recovered, toll rises to 11

Kolkata, Mar 22 (PTI) The body of another person, who had been missing since the collapse of a five-storey building in the city's Garden Reach area, was recovered by rescue workers from underneath the debris, four days after the mishap, taking the death toll to 11, police said on Friday.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Rauf Nizami, also known as Sheru, a friend of the arrested promoter who oversaw the building project, police added.

"The body of Sheru was recovered from underneath the debris around midnight last night," a police officer said.

According to police, Sheru had telephoned his friends from underneath the rubble soon after the collapse of the building and pleaded for rescue.

The construction of the building had been ongoing since December 2022, comprising 16 apartments, each spanning 500 square feet and all reserved for sale, police added.

Police have so far arrested the builder and the landowner on whose property the building was erected. PTI