Kolkata Nazirabad Warehouse Fire: 27 Feared Dead, BJP Demands Minister’s Resignation
Kolkata Nazirabad Warehouse Fire: 27 Feared Dead, BJP Demands Minister’s Resignation
A blaze at twin warehouses near Kolkata leaves 27 feared dead as investigators probe causes and politicians push for ministerial accountability and higher compensation.
Kolkata: A deadly fire ripped through two warehouses in Nazirabad near Kolkata, with at least 27 people feared dead as rescuers comb the charred ruins. Forensics teams collected around 16 samples—bones, skull fragments and other remains—while blood samples from families of the missing have been taken for DNA matching to confirm identities and toll.
Political heat followed instantly. The BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee government of lapses and is pressing for the resignation of the state fire department minister and a sharp hike in compensation for victims’ families from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. Suvendu Adhikari, along with several BJP lawmakers, visited the site and faulted local authorities for allowing illegal godowns to operate. He demanded accountability and said the government should step down if it could not prevent such tragedies.
Raising the stakes, police imposed prohibitory orders in the Nazirabad area to curb potential unrest. The opposition claimed the chief minister, who was only about 10 km away, did not bother to visit the scene. Officials said the investigation would look into regulatory failures and safety lapses.
Rescue teams continued their work as the structure remained fragile and watchful eyes turned toward safety reforms in warehouse operations across the region. Authorities emphasized that the priority is locating any remaining missing workers and providing support to families while ensuring a thorough inquiry into the incident.
