Sun Feb 22 02:32:02 UTC 2026: # Anandapur Fire Aftermath: Remains of 18 Workers Identified and Handed Over to Families

The Story:
Twenty-five days after a devastating warehouse fire in Anandapur, Kolkata, police on Saturday, handed over the DNA-identified remains of 18 deceased workers to their families. The victims, largely from Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and South 24 Parganas, were identified through DNA testing following the January 25 fire that engulfed warehouses belonging to Pushpanjali Decorators and Wow Momo in Nazirabad, Narendrapur. Families reported to the Narendrapur police station for paperwork before receiving the remains at the Katapukur morgue, bringing some closure after weeks of uncertainty.

Key Points:

  • 18 victims identified through DNA testing and their remains handed over to families.
  • Victims primarily from Purba Medinipur (16), Paschim Medinipur (1), and South 24 Parganas (1).
  • The fire occurred on January 25 at the warehouses of Pushpanjali Decorators and Wow Momo.
  • Missing person complaints were filed for 27 people after the fire.
  • Nine body parts remain unidentified.
  • Three individuals – Gangadhar Das (owner of Pushpanjali Decorators) and Raja Chakraborty and Manoranjan Sit (managers of Wow Momo factory) – have been arrested.
  • Compensation announced: Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia by the Prime Minister, Rs 10 lakh by the state government, a civic police job for one family member, and Rs 5 lakh from Pushpanjali Decorators. Wow Momo also compensated its three deceased employees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The identification and handover of remains mark a crucial step in providing closure to the affected families.
  • The high number of fatalities highlights potential safety lapses and regulatory oversights in warehouse operations.
  • The swift arrests and compensation packages indicate a proactive response from both state and private entities.
  • The ongoing identification process for the remaining nine body parts underscores the complexities and challenges of disaster victim identification.

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