Death toll in Kolkata warehouse fire rises to 27; many still missing
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Kolkata: Officials on Sunday stated that the number of fatalities from the fire at the Anandapur warehouses, which are located on Kolkata's southern outskirts, has risen to 27, while 25 people are still missing.
Two more people's remains were found in the burnt warehouses in Anandapur on Saturday, according to police sources, bringing the total number of deaths to 27.
Amidst this, the formation of an SIT a week after the incident raised questions about the sudden activation of the authorities after such a delay.
The fire broke out at the Pushpanjali decorator's warehouse and the Wow Momo factory in the early hours of January 26.
For 32 hours, despite working with wartime urgency, the fire services could not easily bring the inferno under control. Twelve fire engines were continuously deployed. Workers were trapped inside the warehouses and burned to death.
A week after the devastating fire, the Baruipur district police have finally decided to form an SIT -- a five-member team led by Baruipur District Police SP Shubhendu Kumar. The team also includes the Additional Superintendent of Police, DSP Crime, DEB Inspector and another police officer of inspector rank.
It may be noted that the renowned Momo manufacturing company has faced scrutiny since the fire incident. Several people have been arrested. Allegations have been raised about the factory being built on a reclaimed wetland.
Police sources said the SIT will investigate everything, including examining the forensic report, focusing on DNA testing of the deceased and identifying the irregularities at the factory.
It is worth mentioning that the police have already arrested two more people in connection with this incident. The Narendraput police arrested the manager and deputy manager of the momo manufacturing company. Earlier, the owner of the Pushpanjali decorator's warehouse, Gangadhar Das, was arrested. The incident also resulted in a war of words between Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with the latter accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of shielding the real culprits behind the incident.