Kolkata’s Anandapur witnessed a nightmarish fire Monday, obliterating two warehouses and claiming eight lives while several remain missing. The West Bengal government swiftly announced Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for victims’ kin, signaling commitment to those shattered by loss.
During a poignant site visit Tuesday, Minister Firhad Hakim – also Kolkata’s Mayor – delivered the relief pledge. Cheques await body or fragment identification, pending DNA tests authorized by Calcutta High Court on Wednesday, per legal protocols.
Sparking at 3 AM, the fire devoured Gangadhar Das’s decorator warehouse and a momo unit nearby. Migrant workers, prepping floral setups late Sunday, slumbered through the onset. Persistent flames 36 hours on complicated efforts, exposing potential safety voids.
Grieving families besiege medical facilities, police, and ruins for traces. Probe intensifies into ignition source, absent fire escapes, and dubious builds on alleged wetlands. Two cases registered; Das summoned for grilling.
Addressing concerns, Hakim urged caution: ‘Unverified wetland tags could unjustly ruin lives.’
This calamity amplifies calls for stringent oversight in storage hubs. While aid flows post-identification, comprehensive investigations will unearth truths, fostering safer industrial landscapes.