Abysmal failure: On Kolkata warehouse fire

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. One of the outlets belonged to a popular momo eatery chain and the second to a local “decorator”. Decorators help furnish events such as weddings and may have stored fabrics, chairs, and various accessories. Those who escaped the fire reported foul smells and thick smoke that can be a quick killer. The fire raged until Tuesday afternoon, requiring 12 engines to put it out. This indicates the extent of storage of flammable material and the lack of attention given to constructing the structures in a way that would facilitate efficient firefighting.

The State agencies that generally amp up their visibility after such accidents have been reticent. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who typically rushes to such spots, has not visited the site yet. Social media channels of State agencies have been silent. It may well be that the ruling Trinamool Congress does not want to draw too much attention to the tragedy just ahead of Assembly elections. A compensation of ₹10 lakh per person has been announced. So far, not even a perfunctory noise has been made regarding the larger issues — the cause of the accident and how such tragedies can be avoided in the future. That such large unapproved structures with little attention to fire safety had come up at an ecologically sensitive area in Kolkata indicates the abysmal state of civic administration in what used to be the foremost city of India.