The Kolkata Police on Friday arrested a manager and a deputy manager of Wow! Momo following a devastating fire in the Anandapur area of South 24 Parganas that has left at least 25 workers dead, officials said.
Arrests after deadly blaze
The arrested accused have been identified as Raja Chakraborty, manager, and Manoranjan Sheet, deputy manager, of the Wow! Momo facility. Police said the arrests were made as part of the ongoing probe into the fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday.
How the fire spread
According to investigators, the blaze erupted around 3 am in a godown owned by Pushpanjali Decorators and rapidly spread to a neighbouring warehouse operated by Wow! Momo in Nazirabad. Officials said 22 workers died at the Pushpanjali Decorators godown—where the fire is believed to have originated—while three fatalities were reported at the Wow! Momo unit.
With highly inflammable materials stacked in both structures, flames engulfed the premises quickly, leaving workers little chance to escape. Most of the deceased were reportedly staying on the premises and hailed from neighbouring districts.
Claims on safety compliance
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Wow! Momo said the Nazirabad warehouse had been operational for three years and complied with fire safety norms. “Twenty-eight fire extinguishers were installed inside the warehouse. The decorator’s godown did not have compliance, and the fire spread from there,” the spokesperson said.
Authorities, however, said all claims would be verified during the investigation, including adherence to safety protocols, occupancy norms and emergency preparedness.
Rescue and investigation continue
Rescue operations remain underway, with teams sifting through debris to locate missing workers. Forensic experts and fire officials are examining the site to establish the precise cause of the blaze and fix accountability.
Police said further arrests are possible as the investigation progresses. The incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations in industrial godowns and worker accommodations.