Kolkata Fire Tragedy Leaves Families in Agony as Missing Workers Remain Untraceable
The smoke over the gutted site in Anandapur's Nazirabad had somewhat cleared by Tuesday, but for many families, the haze of uncertainty and grief only thickened. They continue to wait desperately for news of their relatives, who have been missing ever since a devastating blaze broke out at a decorator's godown and an adjoining momo chain warehouse in the early hours of Sunday.
Missing Workers and the Challenge of Identification
While the fire claimed 11 lives, the fate of 23 workers remains unknown, with at least 16 of them hailing from East and West Midnapore districts. Many of these missing individuals were skilled decorators and flower workers who resided on the factory premises, drawn to Kolkata in search of livelihood. The difficulty in identifying the charred remains has compounded the families' agony, prolonging their painful wait. "Our boys came here to earn a living, not to disappear into ash," lamented a relative of a missing worker from Panskura, capturing the heartbreak of the situation.
Heart-Wrenching Stories of Loss and Desperation
Among the tragic tales is that of Mousumi, a resident of Garia, whose last communication with her husband, Pankaj Haldar (35), occurred around 3 am on Monday. In a harrowing final conversation, he informed her he was trapped inside, uttering the words, "There is no chance of escaping." After a sleepless night, Mousumi arrived at the site only to be told that her husband's charred skeletal remains had been recovered. Pankaj, the sole breadwinner for his family, was one of three night staffers at the godown, highlighting the personal and economic devastation wrought by the fire.
The list of missing persons includes many from East Midnapore, such as:
- Srikrishna Maity
- Bapan Majhi
- Samaresh Pathikar
- Tapan Dolui
- Buddhadeb Jana
- Soumitra Mondal
- Debaditya Dinda
- Bimal Maity
- Gobinda Mondal
- Rampada Mondal
- Kshudiram Dinda
- Sashanka Jana
- Sandip Maity
These individuals had traveled from towns like Tamluk, Panskura, Moyna, and Nandakumar to work in Anandapur, underscoring the regional impact of the tragedy. Upon reaching the site, their families have repeatedly pleaded with police and officials for updates, yet they have received no clear information, leaving them in a state of limbo.
Families from West Midnapore Also Affected
The anguish extends to West Midnapore as well, where three men from Pingla—Krishnendu Dhara, Anup Pradhan, and Biswajit Sau—worked as flower decorators and are now missing. "My brother spoke to me the night before," shared Anup's sister, Priyanka. "His phone got switched off the next morning, and we have no news of him since." This sentiment echoes across many households, as loved ones cling to hope amidst the silence.
Official Response and Coordination Efforts
In response to the crisis, East Midnapore District Magistrate Eunic Rishin Ismail stated that officials have been dispatched to the affected households to provide support and gather information. "Also, three officials are in Kolkata to coordinate with local rescue teams," he added, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to manage the aftermath. However, for families like that of Sunil Hansda, who traveled from Jhargram to retrieve his brother Rabish's remains, the pain remains raw. "I'm yet to tell my family," he confessed, highlighting the emotional toll of breaking such devastating news.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, the focus remains on identifying the victims and supporting the bereaved families, while questions about safety measures and accountability loom large in the aftermath of the fire.
