Kolkata factory fire kills 19 workers; Wow! Momo under fire over safety lapses, issues statement

Kolkata: Fire brigade personnel douse a fire at a warehouse, in Kolkata, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. A fire broke out in a warehouse in the Nazirabad area of Anandapur, Kolkata, in the early hours of Monday. (Photo: PTI)

• At least 11 workers died in a fire at two godowns in Kolkata's Anandpur area
• Factories lacked mandatory fire safety clearances, hampering rescue efforts
• Families of 17 missing workers have filed reports; investigation is ongoing

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At least 19 workers lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in Kolkata’s Anandpur area, ravaging two godowns.

The workers were sleeping inside the factory when the fire broke out early on Monday. Only 11 bodies have been recovered from the site; more casualties are feared. The police have arrested the owner of the warehouses on the charge of causing death due to negligence.

Meanwhile, families of 17 workers have filed a missing persons report with the police, reported The CSR Journal.

The incident has raised questions about security lapses at the building, which also housed a warehouse of the popular food chain Wow! Momos.

According to a report in Times now, both the factories were operating without mandatory fire safety clearances, severely hampering firefighting efforts and worsening the impact of the blaze.

However, ‘Wow Momo’ authorities, in a statement, claim that the fire did not originate from their warehouse as reported by a section of the media initially. Rather, it originated in an adjacent godown and spread to their warehouse, causing ‘extensive damage’ to the facility.

The fast food giant authorities shared, “The fire has spread out from the nearby godown, which the forensic and police have already validated. Wow! Momo operated a 12,000 sq ft warehouse at the location, which was used for storing packaging materials, various beverages, and other essential supplies. The warehouse was on a rented premise, and the landlord also owns the larger decorators’ godown from where the fire is believed to have originated.”

A heartbreaking loss that has left us deeply saddened. We grieve the passing of three valued lives and extend our deepest condolences to their families. We stand together in prayer, support, and responsibility. pic.twitter.com/fu4ndjjRkP

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— Wow! Momo (@Wowmomo4u) January 28, 2026

Further in the statement, it said that they lost two employees and a security guard in the fire.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ashok Dinda alleged negligence on the part of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and claimed that inadequate safety measures at the factory led to the loss of lives, asserting that strong legal action.

"Allegations are being made that the factory was illegal. But now people have died, and the government has to take accountability. There were no fire alarms or a proper security system....The TMC government promotes such corruption....I will be looking into this matter. I will try to help the families of the affected....I will be asking the police authorities to provide the names of the missing, and we will approach the High Court on the matter. It is a matter of human lives that cannot be compensated with money. We are with the families and will try to support them to the best of our capacity," he said.

Families of the victims expressed anguish and concern over the safety lapses at the factory.

Uttam Hazra Pachim, a victim's family member, told ANI, "My brother-in-law is missing. We tried contacting the police; no answer. They are still looking for his name, Krishnendu Saha. He used to work as a decorator. We tried calling him, but his phone was switched off. We tried calling his friend."

Gariya Mousmi Halder said, "My husband called me around 3 am and said I won't be alive, you won't see me again. When I came police were there, and there was fire, they couldn't go in..."

Another person said, "I used to work here. Now, my friend is working; when I used to work, there was no fire safety system, and the fire department wasn't working. I got to know in the morning."

Superintendent of Police, Baruipur, Shubhendra Kumar, said that an investigation into the incident is underway. Further details are awaited as authorities continue rescue operations and probe the cause of the fire.

*with ANI inputs