At least six fishmongers were injured at the temporary market in Salt Lake’s Baisakhi after a series of stalls made of bamboo and plastic collapsed on Monday afternoon, when strong winds were blowing across the city.
The temporary market in Baisakhi comprises bamboo-and-plastic stalls built under an asbestos shed. A portion of the shed came crashing down, unable to withstand the strong winds, leading to the collapse of the stalls, traders said. There were a handful of shoppers in the market and no one was injured. All six traders were taken to Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Hospital, from where they were discharged after treatment.
“All of them had come with cuts and bruises. We administered first aid in the Emergency ward. They were kept under observation for some time before being discharged,” said a doctor at the hospital who treated them. This market has been in a dilapidated condition for several years.
An official of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation said, “We cannot carry out any repairs as the land on which the market stands is mired in a court case.”
Sources in the civic body said the land was taken by a developer on lease from the government.
“The shopkeepers have been occupying the land for several years. Multiple talks between them and the developer have yielded no results,” said a source.
