Kolkata Momo Warehouse Fire Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 25, SIT Formed for Probe
The devastating fire at a warehouse in Kolkata's Anandpur area has taken a grim turn, with the death toll climbing to 25 confirmed fatalities. In a significant development, the West Bengal Police has established a Special Investigation Team to thoroughly investigate the cause of this horrific incident. The tragedy has also sparked intense political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party launching sharp criticism against the ruling Trinamool Congress government.
Special Investigation Team Constituted to Uncover Fire Origins
According to senior police officials, the newly formed SIT will be led by the superintendent of police of the Baruipur police district. The investigative team will include two additional superintendents from the same district, along with the inspector-in-charge of the local Narendrapur police station and the existing investigating officer handling the case. A senior officer from the Baruipur police district confirmed that three individuals have already been arrested in connection with the fire and are currently undergoing interrogation by investigating officials.
The SIT has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation and filing the chargesheet in due course. The team is expected to meet regularly to monitor progress and ensure thorough examination of all aspects surrounding the tragic incident. This formal investigative structure represents a significant escalation in the official response to the warehouse fire that has shocked the city.
Timeline and Details of the Tragic Incident
The catastrophic fire broke out in the early hours of January 26, around 3 am, at a warehouse falling under the jurisdiction of the Narendrapur police station. The facility belonged to the well-known momos company, Wow! Momo, and was reportedly packed with various items including soft drinks and dry food packets at the time of the incident. Preliminary reports from the state fire services department and forensic teams have provided crucial insights into the fire's origin.
Contrary to initial assumptions, the investigation suggests the fire did not originate from the Wow Momo factory itself. Instead, preliminary findings indicate the blaze started from the adjacent Pushpanjali decorator's warehouse. This revelation has added complexity to the investigation as authorities work to determine the exact sequence of events that led to such massive loss of life.
Arrests and Political Fallout Intensify
The formation of the SIT comes just one day after police arrested two managers from Wow Momo's Anandapur warehouse. Previously, authorities had taken into custody Gangadhar Das, the owner of Pushpanjali decorator. All three individuals have been remanded in police custody until February 4 as the investigation continues to unfold.
The tragedy has become a flashpoint in West Bengal's political landscape, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah launching a scathing attack against the ruling Trinamool Congress during the final day of his two-day visit to the state. Shah characterized the incident as more than just an accident, attributing it to what he called "institutionalised corruption and criminal negligence" on the part of the TMC government.
In his strongly worded remarks, the Union Home Minister raised pointed questions about why the owner of Wow! Momo has not yet been arrested despite the scale of the tragedy. "Twenty-five people died, and 27 are missing. The momo factory owner is close to whom? With whom did he go abroad? Till now why has the momo factory owner not been arrested?" Shah demanded during his address.
Shah further questioned whether the response would have been different if the victims were infiltrators, directly addressing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He emphasized the absence of necessary certifications, noting that the godowns were constructed on wetland areas without proper no-objection certificates. "Why was the godown locked? People were burnt alive," he stated, demanding that those responsible for the tragedy be held accountable and imprisoned.
The warehouse fire has exposed serious questions about safety regulations, enforcement mechanisms, and political accountability in West Bengal. As families mourn their loved ones and search operations continue for the 27 individuals still missing, the newly formed SIT faces mounting pressure to deliver answers and justice in one of Kolkata's most devastating industrial accidents in recent memory.
