Death toll in Kolkata warehouse fire rises to 21 with ‘27 reported missing’

Kolkata warehouse fire death toll rises to 21, with 27 still missing as rescue efforts continue amid ongoing investigations.

The death toll in the Anandapur warehouse fire rose to 21 on Thursday (January 29), according to officials. At least 27 missing person complaints have been filed at the local police station by families since the massive blaze engulfed the facility early on Monday (January 26).

“The death toll is, 21 and 27 missing person complaints have been filed,” top police officials from the Baruipur Narendrapur Police Station told The Hindu on Thursday.

Exhausted firefighters gave way to a fresh shift as rescue operations continued on Thursday morning at the burnt-out warehouse situated on swampy land. Four days after the fire, rescue workers are treading carefully as the massive warehouse structure is now fragile and crumbling having weakened after the blaze.

Multiple trees in the area were reduced to ashes, and a house beside the warehouse was turned black by the smoke. The scene is a grim reminder of the devastation long after the flames were doused. As the smell of water from the fire engines soaking burnt debris filled the air on Thursday morning, firefighters continued their search for missing people and the remains of the deceased.

“Please stay behind the line. We do not want the evidence tainted. Our forensic team is still collecting samples for investigation, and many people are still unaccounted for,” a firefighter told bystanders and media at the barricaded entrance to the warehouse. More bodies may be recovered from under the debris. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanghita has been imposed near the premises to prevent tampering  with evidence. 

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