Kolkata Warehouse Fire: 7 Dead, 21 Missing as Rescue Ops Continue
Kolkata Warehouse Fire: 7 Dead, 21 Missing as Rescue Ops Continue
A Kolkata warehouse complex blaze has killed seven and left 21 workers missing as firefighters battle the inferno and debris into the evening.
A massive fire tore through a Kolkata warehouse complex in the early hours of Monday, breaking out around 3 a.m. in Nazirabad in Anandapur, an area near the East Kolkata Wetlands. The blaze rapidly spread through a cluster of storage units.
The complex housed a mix of dry, packaged food items and decorative materials. Fire officials said many workers were sleeping inside when the flames began, making rescue conditions extremely difficult. By Monday evening, at least seven bodies had been recovered and 21 workers remained unaccounted for as search teams widened the sweep.
Firefighters battled the inferno for hours, deploying around 12 engine teams and braving intense heat and smoldering debris. Rescue operations continued through the day as crews searched damaged warehouses, trying to reach anyone trapped in the rubble.
Relatives gathered outside the site, making frantic calls and hoping for updates. Some people inside reportedly made calls to relatives pleading for help, underscoring the human toll of the disaster.
Officials and opposition leaders weighed in on the incident. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose questioned why such an industrial unit operated in the East Kolkata Wetlands area and why some workers were inside overnight, signaling concerns about safety audits and oversight. Opposition leaders criticized the state administration's response and governance in the wake of the tragedy.
Different tallies have emerged. While the fire department reported seven deaths and 21 missing, other agencies cited lower numbers earlier in the day, including a report of three dead and six missing, highlighting the fluid and evolving nature of the casualty figure while rescue work continues. Investigators said the cause would be probed as teams sift through the debris.
Authorities reiterated that the cause is under investigation and stressed the need to review safety norms for warehouses in dense industrial zones. The incident draws attention to the handling and storage of combustible decoration materials and perishable goods in shared premises—a reminder of the fire risk posed by such setups.
