The death toll from a significant fire at a warehouse in Anandapur, on the outskirts of Kolkata, has reached seven, as confirmed by a state police official. Reports indicate around 20 individuals were present in the warehouse during the fire, with seven charred bodies recovered. Visual identification of the bodies has been challenging due to the extent of charring.
State fire service officials suspect hidden fire pockets within the warehouse, prompting efforts to locate and extinguish them. The cooling process has also commenced as the situation is being monitored closely. The warehouse primarily stored dry food items and soft drinks in Nazirabad, Anandapur.
State Power Minister Aroop Biswas visited the site to offer condolences to the families of the deceased and oversee the rescue operations. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, which trapped employees and security guards inside the warehouse. Allegations suggest the warehouse was locked, hindering escape for those inside.
Residents of a nearby building were safely evacuated, but efforts to rescue those trapped in the warehouse were unsuccessful. State Fire Minister Sujit Bose mentioned that the fire department is actively engaged in managing the situation, with continuous monitoring of the area where two warehouses, including one belonging to a well-known momo company, are located.
