25 Deaths, A Political Showdown: West Bengal Warehouse Fire Draws Scrutiny, Sparks Row

Amid an ongoing probe into the deadly fire at a manufacturing unit in Kolkata’s Anandapur area, the Narendrapur Police have arrested two more people, taking the total number of arrests to three. The death toll in the fire has risen to 25.

Following the arrest of Pushpanjali Decorators godown owner Gangadhar Das, two officials of the momo manufacturing unit, including manager Manoranjan Sheet and deputy manager Raja Chakraborty, have now been taken into custody. Both are scheduled to be produced before the Baruipur Sub-Divisional Court around noon on Friday.

‘Man-Made Disaster’: Amit Malviya Tears Into TMC Over Deadly Fire

Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya on Friday sharply criticised the handling of the Anandapur fire, calling it a “man-made disaster” resulting from “illegal warehouses operating without fire safety norms, mandatory NOCs or audits.” He accused the TMC government of systemic apathy, corruption, and regulatory failure, and condemned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not visiting the site days after the tragedy.

“This was not an accident. It was a man-made disaster, caused by illegal warehouses operating without fire safety norms, mandatory NOCs or audits in the East Kolkata Wetlands. This could only happen due to the systemic apathy, corruption and regulatory collapse under the TMC government. Shockingly, even days after the tragedy, Mamata Banerjee has not visited the site,” Malviya wrote on X.

Reacting to the arrests in the case, Malviya argued the police action highlights a pattern of targeting lower-level officials while shielding the “big sharks” responsible for enabling and profiting from the illegal operations.

“The arrest of a godown manager and a deputy manager only reinforces the pattern of targeting lower-level functionaries while shielding the real culprits, the powerful “big sharks” who enabled, protected and profited from these illegal operations. Justice cannot be selective. Accountability must travel upward, not stop at convenient scapegoats. The people of West Bengal deserve answers, responsibility, and action, not token arrests and silence from the top,” he further wrote.

Earlier on Wednesday, Malviya alleged that a Trinamool-backed group had claimed on social media that 50 people died in the blaze. “Trinamool-sponsored Bangla Pakkho claimed on social media that 50 people have died in the devastating fire in Anandapur,” the BJP leader tweeted. He called for a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure accountability, criticising the delayed response of local ministers.

Flames Brought Under Control, DNA Testing Underway

The fire, which broke out on the night of January 26, reduced two godowns and a momo manufacturing unit to ashes, leaving behind a scene of charred buildings and human remains, news agency PTI reported. Fire officials said the blaze has now been brought under control, with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) clearing debris using gas cutters.

As partially burnt and skeletal remains have been retrieved, DNA profiling is being conducted to establish their identities. Police received 27 missing person reports, mostly from Purba Medinipur district.

Initial investigations indicate that a picnic was organised at the decorator’s godown on the night of January 25, with at least 28 people present. Eyewitnesses said that after dinner, most workers went to sleep before the fire broke out. Officials are examining whether a cigarette or other combustible material triggered the blaze.

What Forensic Report Indicates

A preliminary forensic report submitted to police indicates that the fire originated on the third floor of the decorator’s godown and later spread to the adjacent momo manufacturing unit. “Based on the examination conducted so far, the fire originated on the third floor of the decorators’ godown and subsequently spread to other parts of the premises, including the momo manufacturing unit,” a senior police officer said, citing the joint report, PTI reported.

This contradicts claims by Das, who had initially alleged that the fire started in the momo unit. The combined area of the warehouse and manufacturing unit is approximately 35,000 square feet, with the momo unit occupying around 8,000 square feet.

Cause Of Fire Unknown
Fire and forensic teams have collected multiple samples from the site to determine the cause and point of origin of the fire. Search operations are ongoing to rule out the possibility of more people being trapped inside the gutted buildings.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has granted permission for the BJP to hold a rally regarding the fire today.