A horrific fire in Kolkata’s Anandapur area has left the city in shock, with eight confirmed dead and multiple workers still missing from two gutted warehouses. West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee government responded decisively, declaring Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia payment to each affected family.
The aid was announced by Firhad Hakim, the state’s Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor, while inspecting the devastation on Tuesday. He detailed the process: identification via bodies or remains would trigger immediate cheque distribution. Owing to legal mandates, DNA samples require Calcutta High Court approval, expected Wednesday, Hakim informed.
Chaos unfolded early Monday when flames engulfed the godowns – a decorator’s unit owned by Gangadhar Das and a momo production facility – around 3 AM. Late-night laborers, many resting on-site after handling flowers and decorations, faced the wrath of the uncontrollable fire. Even after over a day, firefighters battled residual blazes amid collapsed structures.
Families endure unimaginable agony, frantically checking mortuaries, stations, and rubble for clues. Police probe the cause, absent safety protocols, and structure permits. Two cases are filed; Das has been called in, though arrest status remains unclear.
Hakim refuted allegations of illegal construction on wetlands, prioritizing humanitarian concerns over punitive speculation. ‘We can’t destroy livelihoods without proof,’ he said.
This incident spotlights systemic vulnerabilities in urban warehousing. With probes underway, the focus shifts to victim support, accountability, and robust safety reforms to avert repeats of this heartbreaking loss.