Death toll in Kolkata warehouse fire climbs to 16, West Bengal Govt announces compensation

When 14 people died in a massive hotel fire in the Burrabazar area of central Kolkata last April, it seemed that devastating fires had become a disturbingly routine phenomenon in the city. The tragedy on the eve of this year’s Republic Day, in which 11 are reported dead so far, has only confirmed that inference.

Seventeen missing persons complaints have been filed, and the toll is likely to climb as agencies clear the area. The bodies are charred beyond recognition and DNA tests would be required to identify them. The dead were mostly migrant workers from faraway places such as Purba Medinipur and the makeshift warehouses were their night shelters.

A year ago, the hotel accident highlighted the poor fire safety aspects of inner cities of India’s metropolises. This time, the devastating fire broke out in two large warehouses stretched over 12,000 sq. ft. in Anandpur. The State fire department has declared that the warehouses were not approved for fire safety and had no fire safety features.