A chaotic Saturday unfolded in West Bengal as a series of unfortunate events—ranging from a structural collapse to political unrest and severe weather warnings—dominated the headlines.

The Malda Market Collapse Disaster struck early Saturday morning in Malda’s English Bazar when a significant portion of the roof at the Netaji Commercial Market suddenly caved in. Local traders were the first to witness the horror, discovering two individuals trapped under the heavy debris. The victims, who sustained life-threatening injuries, were rushed to the Malda Medical College and Hospital by the police. According to hospital officials, their condition remains critical. The incident has sparked outrage among local shopkeepers regarding the safety and maintenance of commercial buildings in the district.

Political Turmoil: Candidates Under Fire As the bugle for the West Bengal Assembly Elections sounds, internal strife has hit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hard in North Bengal. In the Baishnabnagar constituency of Malda, a massive protest broke out following the nomination of Raju Karmakar. Angry party workers set tires ablaze and blocked roads, claiming that Karmakar is an “outsider” with no significant contribution to the local party unit.

The unrest echoed in Jalpaiguri’s Mal constituency as well. Shortly after Shukra Munda was announced as the candidate, disgruntled workers allegedly ransacked the party’s local office. These violent outbursts highlight the deep-seated resentment among grassroots workers regarding the central leadership’s selection of candidates, posing a significant hurdle for the party’s campaign strategy.

Weather Alert: A Stormy Weekend Ahead Adding to the state’s woes, the Alipore Meteorological Department has issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for several districts in South Bengal. A low-pressure trough extending from Madhya Pradesh to Northeast India across West Bengal is triggering widespread atmospheric instability.

Heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 60–70 km/h is expected throughout Saturday. Districts including Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan, Bankura, and Murshidabad are likely to experience severe Nor’wester (Kalbaishakhi) conditions by late afternoon. Kolkata has already witnessed heavy midnight showers, and the Met office warns of potential hailstorms in the coming hours. Residents are advised to stay indoors as the state braces for both political and natural tempests.