Lives of more than 300 residents of colonial Bowbazar region of north-central Kolkata hung in balance as about 50 houses they lived in started developing huge cracks following soil subsidence after the tunnel boring machine of the ongoing East-West Metro project hit a water pocket disturbing the foundations of the houses.
About 4-5 houses have already caved in and the remaining others showed huge cracks all over them making some of the houses to get split vertically from the middle. The incident has been happening for the past couple of days in two narrow by-lanes of ancient Bowbazar accommodating ageless buildings almost tumbling upon each other.
Even as the administration with the help of the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation authorities shifted the residents on an emergency basis to neighbouring hotels the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the Metro authorities to stop work till September 15.
The KMRC sources said the accident could have taken place after water started seeping inside the tunnel carrying the mud from the nearby areas getting the foundation of the buildings to loosen up.
