A deadly fire at Kolkata’s Wow Momo warehouse kills 21, leaves 28 missing, and exposes safety lapses. Rescue operations, arrests, investigations, and compensation announcements are underway as families seek justice.
Kolkata: The death toll from the fire at a warehouse complex in Kolkata’s Anandapur area has reached 21, with 28 people still missing. Rescue teams continue recovering charred remains from the destroyed buildings. The fire, which started in the early hours of January 26, has caused outrage over alleged safety violations and slow official response, leading to arrests, investigations, and compensation announcements by the government and the company involved.
This fire is now the third deadliest in Kolkata in recent years, after the 2011 AMRI Hospital fire (89 dead) and the 2010 Stephen Court fire (43 dead). Families are left in uncertainty, and political blame games have begun.
Timeline and Details of the Fire
The fire started around 3 AM on January 26, 2026, in a warehouse complex in Nazirabad, Anandapur, South 24 Parganas district, near Kolkata. It began in the Pushpanjali Decorators godown, which stored flammable furniture and decor, and quickly spread to the 12,000 sq ft Wow! Momo warehouse for packaging, beverages, and supplies. The fire lasted nearly 36 hours, until the afternoon of January 27, destroying both buildings and causing roof collapses.
Initial investigations suggest the fire may have been caused by unauthorized cooking or an oven in the Pushpanjali godown, but the exact cause is still under police and forensic investigation. The warehouses were located in the ecologically sensitive East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar Site, raising questions about regulatory approvals.
Casualties and Victim Details
As of January 29, 21 bodies have been recovered, including 13 on that day, many badly burned. DNA profiling will start on January 30 to help identify them. Twenty-eight people remain missing, and officials warn the death toll may rise: “Given the nature of the incident and the damage, the toll could go up,” said a senior police officer.
Most victims were migrant workers from nearby districts like East Midnapore and Panskura, living on the premises. Three were Wow! Momo employees, the rest worked for Pushpanjali Decorators. About 37 workers were present; only three survived. Families have filed missing complaints. One relative said: “We are waiting for any word, but the silence is deafening. Our boys came to earn a living, not disappear into ash.” Another shared a heartbreaking call from a victim: “He told me I won’t be alive, you won’t see me again.”
Rescue Operations and Safety Measures
Rescue teams continue carefully due to structural risks: “We are proceeding cautiously as the buildings are weak. Safety of the rescue teams is our priority,” an official said. Ambulances are on standby, and police are maintaining strict security.
To maintain order and aid operations, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were imposed from midnight on January 28. A police officer added: “This order helps maintain law and order and facilitates rescue and identification.”
Safety Violations and Arrests
Both warehouses lacked mandatory fire licenses, safety approvals, alarms, and proper firefighting systems, which delayed efforts and worsened the fire. Doors were reportedly locked at night, trapping workers inside. Wow! Momo said it had 28 fire extinguishers, but forensic teams confirmed the fire started in the neighboring godown.
Gangadhar Das, owner of Pushpanjali Decorators, was arrested on January 28 for causing death by negligence and presented in Baruipur Subdistrict Court. Baruipur Police Superintendent Shubhendra Kumar said: “A detailed investigation is ongoing to find the cause and assign responsibility.” Fire Minister Sujit Bose launched a probe into safety lapses.
Government and Company Responses
The West Bengal Government announced ₹10 lakh ex-gratia compensation for each family of the deceased. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on January 28: “The decorators and Wow! Momo are compensating them too. I have asked police to provide employment to one family member and recruit them as civic volunteers.” Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim visited the site, confirmed compensation, and stressed wetland protection: “Our government values wetland preservation. Those responsible will not be spared.”
Wow! Momo stated on January 28: “The company mourns the loss of three valued employees” and announced ₹10 lakh plus lifetime support to their families. The company clarified: “The fire spread from a nearby godown, confirmed by police and forensic teams.”
Political Reactions and Public Outcry
Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari demanded Sujit Bose’s resignation and sought Calcutta High Court permission for a site visit and march on January 29, with a hearing expected January 30. BJP leader Amit Malviya said: “She must explain why her minister Bose took nearly 32 hours to reach the site. Such negligence is unacceptable.” BJP MLA Ashok Dinda blamed TMC: “People died, the government must take responsibility. There were no fire alarms or safety systems.” Hakim blamed the previous government under Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Public reactions on X (Twitter) show calls for accountability using hashtags #KolkataFire and #WowMomoTragedy, highlighting preventable safety lapses like locked doors.
Investigations continue, focusing on identifying victims, finding the missing, and ensuring accountability. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for stricter safety rules in industrial areas. Families are demanding justice beyond compensation. Updates are expected as DNA results and court proceedings proceed.
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