The death toll from the Anandapur warehouse fire near Kolkata has risen to 23, with more than 25 individuals still unaccounted for, as per sources. The fire department and forensic team have released their initial findings on the incident, indicating that the fire did not start at the Wow Momo factory but at the neighboring Pushpanjali decorator’s warehouse.
Residents in the Anandapur area noticed massive flames engulfing both the momo factory and the adjacent Pushpanjali warehouse around 3 am on Monday. Twelve fire engines worked persistently for almost two days to fully contain the fire at the factory and warehouse. Following the event, a complaint was lodged by the fire department with the local police, prompting an investigation.
An investigation into the fire’s cause and origin was initiated by both the fire department and forensic experts, who gathered various samples from the site. A preliminary joint report was submitted to the police four days post the incident, revealing that the fire initially erupted on the third floor of the decorator’s warehouse before spreading to the momo factory and beyond.
The report also disclosed that the combined area of the momo factory and warehouse was approximately 35,000 square feet, with the factory occupying 8,000 square feet. The arrested individual, Gangadhar, reportedly utilized the remaining space for his decorator business. While the preliminary report has been submitted, forensic experts stand ready for further investigations if required.
Efforts are underway to clear the debris from the razed factories, with large sections of collapsed iron structures being removed using gas cutters and cranes. The search for human remains continues amidst the debris removal process. The death toll climbed to 23 by Thursday afternoon, with over 25 individuals still missing and efforts ongoing to locate them.
