Anandapur Warehouse Fire: 21 Dead, Many Still Missing

Kolkata, January 29: At three in the morning, when most of Anandapur was asleep, and the city had lowered its guard for the Republic Day holiday, a small fire inside a cramped godown quietly turned into a nightmare. By daylight, two warehouses were gone. By nightfall, families were lining the streets, asking the same question again and again.

“Is my son inside?”

So far, 21 people are confirmed dead. Between 23 and 28 are still missing. Many may never come out whole.

This was not a blast. There was no explosion heard across the city. It was a slow, cruel fire, fed by plastic, thermocol, cardboard, and negligence.

How It Started, According To Investigators

Police and fire officials say the fire began inside the Pushpanjali Decorators godown, a place stacked from floor to ceiling with dry flowers, packaging material, thermocol sheets, and decorative items. According to reports in The Times of India, workers were cooking inside the godown using gas cylinders, something that is illegal but common in such places.

One spark was enough.

The fire spread fast, climbing walls and jumping gaps. Within minutes, it reached the neighbouring warehouse leased by WOW! Momos, where momo wrappers, cartons, dry ingredients, and storage material were kept.

Once the flames entered that space, firefighters say the heat became uncontrollable. Tin roofs collapsed. Concrete cracked. Anyone trapped inside had almost no chance.

When Firefighting Turned Into Digging

Fire engines fought the blaze for hours. By morning, there was nothing left to save.

The first three bodies were found later that day. Then the counting became harder. On January 27, officials said 11 people were dead and 23 were missing. By January 28, after earthmovers were brought in, the number rose to 21.

Many of the bodies were not recognisable. In some cases, only bones and fragments were recovered. NDTV reported that 16 DNA samples have already been collected, with more likely in the coming days.

Outside police camps, families wait silently. Some have been there since Monday. They sleep on pavements. They share food. They keep checking their phones.

Most of the missing were labourers who slept where they worked. It saved money. It saved time. It cost them their lives.

“There Was No Way To Run”

Survivors and locals are angry. Many told reporters, as quoted by Punjab News Express, that fire engines came late. Others say even if they had come earlier, escape would have been impossible.

Goods were stacked everywhere. Pathways were narrow. Some doors were reportedly locked. Once smoke filled the rooms, there was nowhere to go.

Fire officials say the kind of material stored there would have burned fast no matter what. That may be true. But people here are asking why such godowns are allowed to operate like sleeping quarters at all.

What WOW! Momos Has Said

In its statement, WOW! Momos confirmed that two employees and one security guard died in the fire. The guard was hired through a private agency. The company said the warehouse was only for storage, not cooking.

Based on early forensic findings, the company said the fire did not start on its premises, a claim also reflected in police briefings quoted by CNBC-TV18.

The Anandapur warehouse has been destroyed. The company says business elsewhere continues.

Arrest And Blame

Police have arrested Gangadhar Das, owner of the decorators’ godown, accusing him of serious negligence. Investigators say the godown allegedly had no fire safety clearance and lacked basic equipment.

He is in custody till February 4.

Now, officials are checking everything. Fire permissions, exit routes, inspections, storage rules. Questions have been asked about how such places function for years without anyone stopping them.

People in Kolkata know the answer. They have seen it before.

Money, Relief, And Anger

After public pressure, WOW! Momos announced financial help. According to The Economic Times HR, families of the deceased will get Rs 10 lakh each, along with long-term salary support and help with children’s education.

The state government has announced its own compensation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the government would give Rs 10 lakh per family, plus Rs 5 lakh from the company and godown owner. She also promised one government job per family, depending on eligibility.

Fire Minister Sujit Bose has ordered fire safety checks across warehouses in the city.

Politics Arrives, As Always

The tragedy has already turned political. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) accused police of acting late. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari held protests, blaming the state government.

At the site, none of that matters much.

Parents want bodies. Wives want answers. Children want their fathers back.

This Did Not Have To Happen

Nothing is shocking about what caused this fire. Illegal cooking. Flammable stock. Sleeping workers. No checks. This combination exists in godowns across the city.

Everyone knows it. Everyone ignores it. Until a fire breaks out.

At Anandapur, rescue teams are still digging. Each pause brings hope. Each restart brings fear.

When the digging stops, Kolkata will move on.

The families here will not.

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Ananya Sharma

Senior Political Correspondent – Ananya@hindustanherald.in – Web

Covers Indian politics, governance, and policy developments with over a decade of experience in political reporting.

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Kolkata Warehouse Fire: 21 Dead, Dozens Missing After Anandapur Blaze