Kolkata police reported that the death toll in the devastating fire at a warehouse in the Anandapur area has risen to eight, with several others still missing. The fire broke out early Monday around 3 am in a dry food warehouse, prompting a massive firefighting operation involving nearly 15 fire engines working continuously through the night and day.
By Monday evening, seven fatalities were confirmed; however, authorities announced on Tuesday that an additional person had succumbed to injuries, bringing the total to eight. A senior officer from the Baruipur police district stated that the fire is now largely under control, but search and rescue operations are ongoing as some people remain unaccounted for.
The warehouse in Nazirabad, Anandapur, mainly stored dry and packaged food items along with soft drink bottles. The fire spread to two adjacent warehouses, resulting in extensive damage with almost everything reduced to ashes. Firefighters faced significant challenges due to the warehouse’s location inside a narrow lane, which hampered access and firefighting efforts.
West Bengal’s Electricity Minister Arup Biswas visited the site to review the rescue operations and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. He also interacted with the families of the missing persons to provide support during the difficult time.
The exact cause of the fire remains uncertain, but fire brigade officials suspect a short circuit as the likely reason. It was reported that several employees on night duty were trapped inside. At least six security guards working inside the warehouse were unable to escape. Locals have raised concerns that the warehouse was locked from outside, preventing those trapped from fleeing the fire.
Relatives of trapped workers revealed that the fire started around 3 am on Monday, and the workers had attempted to call for help and even tried breaking a wall to escape, but communication was lost thereafter. The full extent of the damage and loss is yet to be assessed.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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