Kolkata Anandpur Fire: A massive fire broke out in Kolkata’s Anandpur area, ravaging two godowns while workers were sleeping inside. At least 11 charred bodies have been recovered so far, and police fear the death toll may rise as dozens are still missing and possibly trapped under the debris. Investigations have revealed serious security lapses at the building, which also housed a warehouse of popular food chain Wow! Momos. Officials said both godowns were operating without mandatory fire safety clearances, severely hampering firefighting efforts and worsening the impact of the blaze.
Why Is Wow! Momos Under Scrutiny?
The fire erupted on Monday at a manufacturing unit near Ruby Crossing in the Nazirabad area of Anandpur. Firefighters, rescue teams, and police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as the fire spread rapidly due to the presence of highly inflammable materials. Initial reports suggested that the fire may have originated from the Wow! Momos warehouse, a claim later denied by the company.
In a statement, Wow! Momos clarified that the fire did not start in its warehouse but in an adjacent godown. “The fire spread from a nearby godown, which forensic and police investigations have already validated,” the company said.
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Wow! Momos operated a 12,000 sq ft warehouse at the location, used to store packaging materials, beverages, and other essential supplies. The premises were rented, and the landlord also owns the larger decorators’ godown from where the fire is believed to have originated.
The company confirmed that three people present inside its warehouse at the time of the incident lost their lives.
“Two employees were working inside the warehouse, along with a security guard deployed by an outsourced agency. All three died in the fire,” the statement said.
Major Fire Safety Lapses Found
According to media reports, both godowns were functioning without mandatory fire safety approvals and lacked basic firefighting infrastructure. Rescue operations have been proceeding slowly due to the risk of further structural collapse.
“We are proceeding very carefully as the structure has become weak. The safety of rescue personnel is our priority, which has slowed down operations,” said an official from the disaster response team.
Authorities have launched a probe to determine the exact cause of the fire and to verify whether any fire audit had been conducted.
“Stern legal action will be taken against the godown owners for lapses,” an official said.
Families Search for Loved Ones Caught in Kolkata Fire
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as families searched for relatives trapped in the blaze. “My husband called me around 3 am and said, ‘I won’t be alive, you won’t see me again.’ When I reached, police were there and the fire was raging. They couldn’t go inside,” said Gariya Mousmi Halder, speaking to ANI.
Another former worker said, “When I used to work here, there was no fire safety system and the fire department wasn’t functioning properly. My friend works here now, and I got to know about the fire in the morning.”
Superintendent of Police, Baruipur, Shubhendra Kumar, confirmed that a detailed investigation into the incident is underway.
