21 Die After Fire In 2 Warehouses, Including 1 Owned By Wow Momo, In Kolkata

A devastating inferno that engulfed two adjoining warehouses in Kolkata's Anandapur area has tragically claimed the lives of 21 individuals, with authorities fearing the death toll could rise further as search and rescue operations continue amidst the charred remains. Several more people are reported missing, intensifying the anxiety among families awaiting news of their loved ones.

The horrific blaze, which erupted before dawn, originated at a decorator's warehouse and swiftly spread to an adjacent godown operated by a popular momo outlet chain. The rapid expansion of the fire caught many workers asleep inside the facilities, leaving them little to no chance of escape. Police reports indicate that the victims were unable to evacuate in time, leading to the devastating loss of life. In the aftermath, a painstaking process of identification has begun, with 16 DNA samples from relatives already collected for mapping, underscoring the severity of the inferno and the challenges in identifying the victims.

The tragedy has prompted immediate legal action. Police have arrested Gangadhar Das, the owner of the gutted Pushpanjali Decorators warehouse, on grave charges of causing death by negligence. Das was apprehended from the Garia area and, after undergoing a medical examination, was produced in a sub-divisional court. He has since been remanded to police custody until February 4, as investigators meticulously work to piece together the sequence of events that led to the catastrophe. Four workers from the decorator's company, who miraculously survived the blaze, are expected to assist authorities in reconstructing the incident, offering crucial eyewitness accounts.

The incident has also cast a harsh spotlight on the operational practices of the food chain whose warehouse was severely damaged. Police sources reveal that the company had rented the godown from Gangadhar Das, and a rigorous examination is underway to determine whether crucial fire safety guidelines were adhered to. Preliminary ground investigations have uncovered troubling details: the food chain operated a sprawling 12,000-square-foot warehouse at the site, used for storing vast quantities of packaging materials, beverages, and other essential supplies. Critically, stacks of piled-up materials were observed near the main entrance, potentially creating a significant obstruction to movement and exit in an emergency scenario.

Further compounding the concerns, investigators have confirmed that the entire warehouse and godown complex operated without the necessary permissions from the fire department. The facility's location in the marshy Nazirabad area, a relatively remote stretch near Anandapur along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, raises additional questions. Local residents have highlighted that this part of eastern Kolkata, once a vital water body, has been increasingly subjected to illegal land filling over recent years, potentially exacerbating the risks associated with such industrial operations. Search operations are actively continuing to ensure no further individuals remain trapped within the structurally compromised and charred premises.

In the wake of the disaster, the food chain has issued statements acknowledging fatalities among its staff, though with initial conflicting accounts. An initial statement reported three workers killed, later revised to two employees and one contracted security guard in a more detailed statement issued on Wednesday. The company attributed the blaze to unauthorised cooking activities at the neighbouring warehouse, stating the fire rapidly spread into their godown premises, causing a complete burnout. Demonstrating a commitment to the affected families, the company announced a significant compensation package: a lump-sum payment of Rs 10 lakh to each family, lifetime monthly salary support for the bereaved, and educational support for the children of the deceased.

Parallel to corporate efforts, the West Bengal government has also extended support, announcing an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh for each family of those who perished. Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim confirmed that compensation would be disbursed upon identification of bodies or body parts, with court permission sought for DNA tests where necessary.

The tragedy has predictably ignited a political storm. Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, staged a protest at the site, directly accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being responsible for the catastrophic fire. Families of the victims, grappling with immense grief, have expressed profound anguish over what they perceive as glaring safety lapses at the warehouses, demanding full accountability from all parties involved. A central and critical question investigators are now striving to answer is why those trapped inside were unable to escape, focusing on possibilities such as doors being shut from the outside or crucial exit routes being blocked, pointing to potential systemic failures in safety protocols.