On 30th January (Friday), warehouse manager Raja Chakraborty and deputy manager Manoranjan Sheet of Wow! Momo were taken into custody by the authorities following a big fire in the Anandapur region of Kolkata in West Bengal. The fire claimed the lives of at least 27 workers, while 28 remain missing. Families of employees have filed 27 missing person complaints, according to a senior official from the Baruipur police division, reported Hindustan Times.
As of now, 21 bodies have been located. Blood samples were gathered from 16 bodies for DNA testing. The forensic laboratory will receive the samples. According to the officer, 16 forensic samples, including skulls and bones that have been burned beyond recognition are being examined in order to identify victims and ascertain the final death toll. Blood samples from relatives have been acquired for DNA matching.
#WATCH | West Bengal | Visuals from the spot where a fire broke out in a manufacturing unit in Anandapur, Kolkata on 27th January, 2026.
A total of 21 bodies have been found so far. Blood samples have been collected for the DNA test of 16 bodies. Samples will be sent to… pic.twitter.com/6p0OChd2rx— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2026
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has engaged in a fierce attack against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and protested against the “man-made” instance. She was also denounced for her failure to visit the victims of the shocking tragedy. The march took place from Khudiram Metro Station to Narendrapur Police Station.
“This is not an accident; it is a direct result of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government’s chronic negligence, rampant corruption, and utter failure to enforce basic fire safety norms, NOCs, and regulations. The death toll has risen to over 20 (with many still missing and DNA identification ongoing). Mamata Banerjee has not even visited the site days after the incident. Whom is she trying to protect? Sagar Daryani,” wrote Suvendu Adhikar who participated in the agitation.
Additionally, he accused leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and local police of facilitating the operation of illicit warehouses. He demanded that the state’s fire services minister should resign and the compensation for the families of the deceased be raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
Today, with the permission of the Hon'ble Calcutta High Court, I joined and led a peaceful protest march from Khudiram Metro Station to Narendrapur Police Station to raise our voice against the horrific man-made tragedy at Anandapur (Nazirabad), where dozens of innocent lives,… pic.twitter.com/ytJWYYADG7
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) January 30, 2026
“27 people are dead and more are feared dead. Families are grieving. Victims are waiting for answers. Yet, Mamata Banerjee is still to visit the victims. But when the ED raided the house of the IPAC founder in a money-laundering case, the Chief Minister rushed immediately to his residence. Priorities speak louder than words,” Amit Malviya charged.
He further remarked, “The same Chief Minister had no hesitation posing in Madrid in 2023 with Wow Momo CEO Sagar Daryani, while today, questions are being raised over illegal operations and regulatory failures linked to the tragedy. Compassion for victims is missing. Urgency is reserved for those with political proximity. Bengal is watching.”
27 people are dead and more are feared dead. Families are grieving. Victims are waiting for answers.
Yet, Mamata Banerjee is still to visit the victims.
But when the ED raided the house of the IPAC founder in a money-laundering case, the Chief Minister rushed immediately to his… pic.twitter.com/N24jmWDcn7— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 30, 2026
The fire started in a godown owned by Pushpanjali Decorators at 3 am on 26th January (Monday). It quickly spread to the next warehouse operated by Wow! Momo. The two buildings were immediately engulfed in flames due to the stacking of combustible materials. Only three of the about 37 workers in the two godowns were able to escape. With the exception of the three workers in the Wow facility, everyone else was in the Pushpanjali godown. The majority of the employees resided on the property and were from nearby districts.
Both factories were reportedly operating without the required fire safety approvals. Gangadhar Das, the proprietor of the warehouse next to the Wow Momo unit had previously been apprehended by the police. It is considered to be the source of the fire.
According to the Wow! Momo, the fire damaged the fire exit and blocked an escape path, resulting in the deaths of three people connected to its operations: two employees and a security guard. It has announced full education sponsorship for their children, lifetime monthly pay support, and a compensation package of Rs 10 lakh each.
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
— Wow! Momo (@Wowmomo4u) January 28, 2026
The business conveyed, “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.”
Despite Wow! Momo’s insistence that the fire did not start in its warehouse, the company has been at the focus of the public narrative. The nearby godown and the warehouse lacked certified fire clearance, according to fire department officials. Fire and Emergency Services Director-General Ranvir Kumar reported that the property did not have fire licence and safety measures. He added, “We will definitely file FIRs (First Information Reports) because there were violations.”
Severe violations and non-compliance with fire safety requirements have been found in preliminary investigations. Fire officials acknowledged that the warehouses did not have a proper fire safety clearance. Additionally, they lacked adequate firefighting equipment including sprinklers, alarms, and adequately designated emergency exits.