Kolkata Warehouse Fire: Arrests and Aftermath
The manager and deputy manager of a Wow! Momo warehouse were arrested in connection to a fire that occurred in Kolkata. The fire broke out early on January 26 in the Anandapur area, killing at least 25 people.
Arrests Made
On Thursday night, police arrested Raja Chakraborty, the deputy manager, and Manoranjan Sheet, the manager of the Wow! Momo warehouse. They were apprehended in Narendrapur. The Narendrapur police arrested the two for alleged negligence. Gangadhar Das, the owner of the warehouse adjacent to the Wow! Momo facility, was arrested earlier.
The Fire
The fire started at approximately 3 a.m. on January 26 at two warehouses in Nazirabad, off the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. The blaze is suspected to have originated at the warehouse owned by Gangadhar Das, which housed Pushpanjali Decorators, and then spread to the adjacent Wow! Momo warehouse. Both warehouses stored flammable goods, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.
Investigation and Response
Investigators are looking into the whereabouts and responsibilities of those arrested during the time the fire erupted. The arrested Wow! Momo managers were presented at the Baruipur sub-divisional court on Friday and were sent to custody for five days. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed at the incident site in Nazirabad since Wednesday night and will remain in effect until March 30.
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose visited the site and described the scene as a result of systemic neglect. The West Bengal government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh for each victim's family. Wow! Momo has pledged Rs 10 lakh per family, lifetime monthly salary support for dependents, and education assistance for children of the deceased.
Wow! Momo's Stance
Wow! Momo stated that the fire originated in the adjoining godown and that the company complied with all fire safety protocols. The company stated that three people linked to its operations—two employees and a security guard—died after the fire damaged the fire exit and cut off an escape route.
Aftermath
The death toll in the Anandapur warehouse fire has reached 25. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and directed the District Magistrate concerned to submit an action taken report.
