Kolkata Warehouse Fire: Wow! Momo Managers Arrested as Death Toll Rises to 25

A devastating warehouse fire on the outskirts of Kolkata has turned into a major criminal investigation after police arrested two senior staff members linked to a food logistics unit operated by Wow! Momo. The blaze, which broke out in the early hours of Monday, has claimed at least 25 lives, making it one of the deadliest industrial fires in the region in recent years.

Kolkata Police confirmed the arrest of Raja Chakraborty, manager, and Manoranjan Sheet, deputy manager, following preliminary findings that pointed to serious lapses in safety preparedness and emergency response. The fire erupted around 3 am in a godown belonging to a decorator firm and rapidly spread to the adjoining warehouse used by Wow! Momo in the Anandapur–Nazirabad area of South 24 Parganas.

According to local accounts, inflammable materials stored in both structures allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably within minutes. Of the nearly 37 workers present across the two godowns, only three managed to escape, highlighting the absence of viable evacuation routes and early warning mechanisms. Most of the victims were migrant workers who also lived inside the premises, leaving them with little chance to flee once the flames engulfed the buildings.

Authorities stated that while the Wow! Momo unit claimed to have installed fire extinguishers and followed safety protocols, the neighbouring godown reportedly lacked even basic compliance. Investigators are now examining whether shared walls, blocked exits and poor oversight turned a containable fire into a mass-casualty disaster.

Rescue teams continue to sift through the debris as several workers were initially reported missing, raising concerns that the toll could rise further. The site remains sealed, with forensic teams collecting evidence to determine the exact cause of the fire and the extent of negligence involved.

The arrests signal a tightening stance by law enforcement, as questions mount over industrial safety, worker housing inside commercial spaces, and accountability within supply-chain operations. What began as a routine overnight shift ended in tragedy — and has now evolved into a grim reminder of how regulatory gaps can cost lives.

As investigations proceed, the incident has reignited debate over warehouse safety norms in urban India, where speed of operations often outpaces safeguards meant to protect those at the bottom of the workforce ladder.