Kolkata: More Bowbazar residents move out as subsidence zone widens

KOLKATA: Some more houses in Bowbazar had to be evacuated late on Friday night after ITD teams went on a recce to check if more houses were affected by the subsidence at Madan Dutta Lane. Around 20 more people were shifted to a hotel on CR Avenue.
Late on Friday night, cracks were spotted on the buildings at 186 BB Ganguly Street and 185/1B BB Ganguly Street, which are across the main road. "This proves that the cave-in zone has extended to the other side of BB Ganguly Street, across the main road," an official said.
Several families from various neighbouring buildings have moved out and shifted elsewhere as panic has gripped the area. Many buildings other than those on Madan Dutta lane have also developed cracks. "Engineers had come and inspected the building. They also provided some reinforcements and support so that the damage can be contained. But it was not safe to stay in this building at night, so we decided to shift to a place nearby," said Sourav Das, resident of 186 BB Ganguly Street where residents have not been asked to evacuate.
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) managing director C N Jha told reporters on Friday: "We shall have to evacuate roughly 35 buildings around 30m-50m radius of Madan Dutta Lane, the source of the current subsidence." KMRC has been advised to do so by STUP, consultants hired by ITD ITD-Cementation, which is contracted to build the last 2.5-km leg of East-West Metro.
Jha had sought KMC mayor Firhad Hakim's help to rope in more hotels in central Kolkata. "KMC has already given us a list of hotels where people can stay. If 35 houses are to be vacated, around 400 people will have to be accommodated," a KMRC official said.
An engineer said, "All this time, the area surrounding Durga Pituri Lane, Syankrapara Lane and Gour De Lane were considered the cave-in zone. But with the displacement of residents on the two new BB Ganguly Street addresses, the periphery seems to have grown wider."
Engineers from ITD along with Florian Krenn, geotechnical expert hired by the company, visited the area on Saturday and surveyed the situation. As per their advice, grouting work has started on 12 Madan Dutta Lane, the house which seems most affected. This building and the other structures that developed cracks have been propped up for support.
The Haldar family of 185/1 BB Ganguly Street had shifted to a relative's house on Friday night along with their two pets. "We did not want to take any risk at night. If anything happened, we would have been stranded with our pets and books from my father's library. We have returned because Metro representatives are scheduled to visit us," said Saptami Haldar. On Saturday, the Metro authorities advised them to move into a hotel but the family was reluctant because of their two pets and books.
Bikash Sau has shifted his old parents to a relative's place in Howrah. "We can't be sure that the next house will not be ours. The list of localities getting affected is increasing and the next one could be ours. So I have shifted my parents to a relative's place in Howrah," said Sau.