A tragic fire in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, claimed at least eight lives and left many missing after it engulfed two warehouses early Monday. The blaze, which began around 3 am, prompted extensive rescue efforts and took nearly seven hours to control.
Photo : PTI
At least eight people were killed and several others are feared missing after a devastating fire tore through two adjoining warehouses in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district early on Monday, triggering frantic rescue efforts and anguished scenes as families waited for news of loved ones.
The fire broke out around 3 am in twin godowns located in the Najirabad area under the Narendrapur police station limits, on the outskirts of Kolkata.
Twelve fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and it took nearly seven hours to bring the blaze under control. Even after that, pockets of fire continued to smoulder in parts of the gutted structures, officials said.
Charred Bodies Recovered, Identity Unknown
During a search operation that began once the flames subsided, three badly charred bodies were recovered around 5 pm. Five more bodies were found later in the evening, taking the death toll to eight. Baruipur police district SP Shubhendu Kumar said the victims could not be identified as the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
He added that the exact number of casualties would only be known after the debris is completely cleared and the remaining fire pockets are fully extinguished.
Police said the two warehouses housed labourers working for a decorating firm and a popular momo chain. While six people were initially reported missing, relatives of those trapped fear the actual number could be more than 10.
Most of the dead and missing are believed to be from Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas districts.
As dusk fell, anxious relatives gathered outside the cordoned-off site, repeatedly approaching police and fire officials for updates.
“My uncle used to stay in a small room inside the godown. He last called around 1 am. Since then, his phone is switched off,” said Tanmoy Giri, who has been waiting at the spot since morning. Another young man said his father had reported for a night shift at the momo unit but has not been heard from since the fire broke out.
Rescue Operations Still On
Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose said rescue operations were continuing, with teams working to douse lingering flames across different floors. High-mast lamps have been installed to aid night-time operations.
On fire safety compliance, Bose said that while fire audits are conducted twice a year, it is ultimately the responsibility of owners and company officials to ensure safety protocols are followed “in letter and spirit”.
Responding to questions about not visiting the site earlier in the day, Bose said he had been monitoring the situation since morning and stressed that official visits should focus on ensuring effective operations rather than “demonstration”.