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Tragic Warehouse Fire in Kolkata Claims Lives and Sparks Rescue Efforts
Gyanhigyan english | January 29, 2026 1:39 AM CST

In a devastating incident in the Anandapur area of Kolkata, a warehouse fire has resulted in the discovery of at least 16 charred bodies. Authorities are actively searching for around 13 individuals who remain unaccounted for. Following this disaster, emergency services have initiated extensive relief operations. Officials have confirmed efforts to identify the deceased and provide assistance to the families affected by this tragedy. The fire broke out early in the morning, rapidly spreading due to the presence of a large quantity of flammable materials stored in the warehouse. According to police sources from the Baruipur district in South 24 Parganas, remnants of burnt bones are still present inside the building, highlighting the severity of the disaster.


Details of the Incident

Local residents reported that the warehouse primarily stored dry food items. The fire ignited around 3 AM on Monday, quickly escalating due to the storage of flammable goods such as packaged dry foods and bottles of cold drinks. Following the incident, Minister Arup Biswas, MP Saini Ghosh, and Sujit Bose visited the site. Kolkata's Mayor Firhad Hakim also arrived at the scene, stating, "I came here today on the Chief Minister's instructions. This is an extremely tragic event, and many lives have been lost. The fire was very intense." The fire department and police are currently investigating the cause and source of the blaze.


Ongoing Investigations and Support for Victims

Furthermore, forensic teams have begun examining the recovered bodies to establish identities. Challenges remain in the identification process, prompting the filing of missing persons reports. Authorities are preparing to conduct DNA tests using blood samples from relatives, which will commence following court approval. The West Bengal government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for each victim's family. Mayor Firhad Hakim confirmed, "Financial assistance of ₹10 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased." He also mentioned that compensation will be distributed once identities are confirmed through DNA testing.



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