The structure toppled allegedly due to the cleaning work that was being carried out in a nearby canal.
A three-storey under construction building collapsed and toppled into an irrigation canal next to it in a village in Bengal's West Midnapore district on Saturday morning.
The 30-second video of the building collapse at Nischintapur village in Daspur block, about 120 km from Kolkata, captures the structure falling towards the state irrigation canal. A cloud of dust is seen moments later.
The structure toppled after its foundation was weakened allegedly due to the cleaning work that was being carried out in a nearby canal. According to reports, cracks had started developing in the building a couple of days ago.
Heavy monsoon rain yesterday further affected the stability of the foundation, exposed by the canal excavation.
The owner of the building, Nemai Samanta, could not be contacted for comment. He used to have a shop on the ground floor of the building where he sold groceries and stationary goods.
Locals say the building is possibly an illegal construction as it was too close to the irrigation canal and encroached on government land.
Bangshi Khara, who lives nearby, said, "The sight of the building collapse is terrifying. We will remember it for a long time. Nemai Samanta was making this building for business purposes. We haven't seen him in the area for two days."
South Bengal has been witnessing heavy monsoon rain since yesterday.