At least eight people were killed and several others are feared missing after a devastating fire tore through two adjoining warehouses in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district early on Monday, triggering frantic rescue efforts and anguished scenes as families waited for news of loved ones. The fire broke out around 3 am in twin godowns located in the Najirabad area under the Narendrapur police station limits, on the outskirts of Kolkata. Twelve fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and it took nearly seven hours to bring the blaze under control. Even after that, pockets of fire continued to smoulder in parts of the gutted structures, officials said.
During a search operation that began once the flames subsided, three badly charred bodies were recovered around 5 pm. Five more bodies were found later in the evening, taking the death toll to eight. Baruipur police district SP Shubhendu Kumar said the victims could not be identified as the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. He added that the exact number of casualties would only be known after the debris is completely cleared and the remaining fire pockets are fully extinguished.
Police said the two warehouses housed labourers working for a decorating firm and a popular momo chain. While six people were initially reported missing, relatives of those trapped fear the actual number could be more than 10. Most of the dead and missing are believed to be from Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas districts.
Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/kolkata/kolkata-8-dead-several-feared-trapped-after-fire-engulfs-twin-warehouses-in-south-24-parganas-article-153511233