Kolkata Police Arrests Wow! Momo Officials Following Deadly Warehouse Fire
In a significant development following the tragic fire incident in Kolkata's Anandapur area, the Kolkata Police on Friday took into custody two senior officials from the popular food chain Wow! Momo. The arrested individuals have been identified as manager Raja Chakraborty and deputy manager Manoranjan Sheet.
Deadly Blaze Claims Multiple Lives
The arrests come in the wake of a devastating fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 25 workers. According to official reports, the fire originated around 3 am in a godown operated by Pushpanjali Decorators before rapidly spreading to an adjacent warehouse managed by Wow! Momo.
With both facilities containing highly inflammable materials, the structures were quickly consumed by intense flames, creating extremely hazardous conditions that made escape nearly impossible for those trapped inside. Rescue officials confirmed that 27 workers remain missing as search operations continue through the debris.
Survivors and Victims
Local residents reported that only three workers managed to escape the inferno from the two godowns, which together housed approximately 37 individuals at the time of the incident. Most of the workers hailed from neighboring districts and were living on the premises, highlighting the vulnerable conditions faced by migrant laborers in urban industrial settings.
Of the three survivors, all were employees working in the Wow! Momo unit, while the remaining victims were primarily located in the Pushpanjali Decorators godown. This distribution of casualties has raised serious questions about fire safety compliance across different facilities operating in close proximity.
Company Response and Safety Claims
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Wow! Momo addressed the tragedy, stating that their Nazirabad warehouse had been operational for three years and maintained compliance with all fire safety protocols. The representative specifically mentioned that twenty-eight fire extinguishers had been installed within their facility.
"The godown that belongs to the decorator's company did not have any compliance and the fire spread from there," the spokesperson asserted, suggesting that the blaze originated in the neighboring facility before reaching their premises.
Ongoing Investigations and Rescue Efforts
Authorities continue their painstaking search through the debris for the missing workers, with rescue operations proceeding around the clock. Simultaneously, investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess potential safety violations that may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about industrial safety standards, particularly concerning storage facilities housing flammable materials in densely populated urban areas. As the community mourns the loss of lives, questions remain about regulatory oversight and enforcement of fire safety measures in commercial establishments across Kolkata and beyond.
