Death toll in Anandapur fire rises to 16, over 20 still missing

The death toll in the devastating fire at Anandapur's momo warehouse rises to 16 on Wednesday morning. Rescue teams and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) workers, equipped with gas cutters, discovered five new burnt body parts while clearing the debris of the 5,000-square-foot facility. The intensity of the blaze was so severe that iron structures melted, making the recovery of identifiable remains nearly impossible. While 16 deaths are currently confirmed by ground reports, the administration warns that the number could rise as search operations continue in the ruins.

Despair and anger have gripped the families of the victims, many of whom have been camping outside the Narendrapur and Anandapur police stations. The number of missing person diaries has climbed to 23, with relatives from Purba Medinipur and South 24 Parganas desperately seeking news of their loved ones. Since the recovered remains are charred beyond recognition, the Baruipur Police have moved the court to seek permission for DNA profiling. Samples will be sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to help families identify their deceased kin and provide a sense of closure.

The owner of the adjoining decorator's warehouse, Gangadhar Das, was arrested late Tuesday night in East Midnapore on charges of death due to negligence. Meanwhile, a hunt is on for the owners of the Momo unit. Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has announced an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased, but political tensions remain high as opposition leaders call the incident a "man-made disaster" caused by administrative failure.