A tragic fire at the ‘Wow! Momos’ warehouse-factory in Kolkata’s Anandpur has drawn the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) sharp rebuke. With 20 confirmed deaths and missing workers, the January 26 incident has ignited calls for systemic overhaul in worker protections.
Flames spread rapidly through the premises, trapping sleeping laborers with no viable escape routes. The complaint levels serious charges of criminal recklessness against the company, while indicting oversight failures by fire brigades, labor enforcers, urban developers, and district officials.
Under the 1993 Act’s Section 12, the NHRC has notified the Kolkata District Magistrate for an Action Taken Report due in three days, citing apparent human rights breaches tied to life, safety, and dignity. Legal references span factory laws, occupational health standards, disaster management rules, and constitutional Article 21.
Relief sought encompasses an impartial investigation at the highest level, liability fixes for perpetrators, solace funds and resettlement for affected kin, plus statewide security inspections. Chaired by Priyank Kanoongo, the bench mandates dual report submission channels. This assertive step by NHRC spotlights vulnerabilities in India’s informal manufacturing hubs, potentially catalyzing tougher regulations and vigilant monitoring to honor workers’ rights.