At least 21 workers were killed and 23 others were reportedly missing after a massive fire broke out in Kolkata's Anandpur area, ravaging two godowns. On January 26, at around 3 am, a fire erupted in the factory while workers were asleep inside, officials said. PTI reported that all those killed or missing hailed from the districts of Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas.
Police have arrested the owner of the warehouses on charges of causing death by negligence, while the exact cause of the blaze and the full extent of the damage remain unclear. Fire department sources added that DNA samples will be collected from relatives to help identify bodies and skeletal remains recovered from the site.
The event has raised worries about potential security and safety oversights at the building, which also contained a warehouse for the well-known food chain Wow! Momos. Reports indicate that both factories were functioning without the required fire safety approvals.
Nonetheless, Wow! Momos issued a statement clarifying that the fire did not begin in its warehouse, contrary to initial media reports. The company explained that the fire originated in a nearby storage area and subsequently spread to its warehouse, resulting in significant damage to the facility.
In a statement, Wow! Momos said, "The fire has spread out from the nearby godown, which the forensic and police have already validated. Wow! Momo operated a 12,000 sq ft warehouse at the location, which was used for storing packaging materials, various beverages, and other essential supplies. The warehouse was on a rented premise, and the landlord also owns the larger decorators' godown from where the fire is believed to have originated.”