Anandapur Fire Tragedy Claims 21 Lives, 28 Missing in West Bengal
A devastating fire that swept through two godowns and a momo manufacturing unit in Anandapur, located in South 24 Parganas district near Kolkata, West Bengal, has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 21 individuals. As of the latest reports, 28 people remain unaccounted for, with authorities expressing grave concerns that the death toll may increase significantly given the extensive nature of the blaze.
Factory Owner Absconding as Police Launch Manhunt
In the aftermath of the catastrophic incident, the owner of the factory, identified as Gangadhar Das, has gone missing. A senior police officer confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Das, who is currently absconding. His mobile phone is switched off, and intensive raids are being conducted across all possible locations to trace his whereabouts. The police officer stated, "An FIR has been registered against the owner. He has not been traceable since the incident, and his mobile phone remains switched off. Raids are being conducted, and all possible locations are being verified."
Wow! Momo Announces Compensation and Lifetime Support
The momo company, Wow! Momo, which lost three employees in the fire—two staff members and a contracted guard—has issued a statement outlining substantial support for the affected families. The company has announced a compensation package of ₹10 lakh for each bereaved family, along with lifetime monthly salary support and education assistance for the children of the deceased. The statement emphasized the company's commitment, noting, "As part of its commitment, the company announced a lump-sum compensation of ₹10 lakh to each affected family, lifetime monthly salary support for the bereaved families and education support for the children of the deceased."
Investigation Reveals Regulatory Lapses and Fire Origin
Preliminary investigations into the fire, which broke out around 3 am on January 26, have uncovered serious regulatory failures. Fire department officials revealed that the factory unit was operating without the mandatory fire safety clearance. A senior fire services official, in the presence of Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose, stated, "There was no fire safety clearance issued for this unit."
According to the statement from Wow! Momo, the fire originated due to unauthorized cooking activities at an adjoining warehouse. The blaze rapidly spread into one of the company's godown premises, leading to a complete burnout of the facility. The company expressed profound grief, noting, "This fire engulfed not only our men, but our spirit too."
Government Response and Compensation Measures
The West Bengal government has also stepped in to provide support, announcing an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the kin of the victims. The compensation will be disbursed once the bodies or body parts are identified. Authorities plan to seek court permission to conduct DNA tests to facilitate this process. In a related development, one person has been arrested in connection with the fire incident, though details remain limited.
As rescue and recovery operations continue, the community and authorities are grappling with the scale of the tragedy, highlighting urgent concerns over fire safety regulations and industrial compliance in the region.
