Three Killed In Massive Warehouse Fire In South 24 Parganas, Rescue Operations Continue

At least three people lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a warehouse in the Najirabad area of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal early Monday morning, police officials said.

The fire started around 3 am under the Narendrapur police station area and took nearly seven hours to bring under control. Firefighters worked through heavy smoke and intense flames to contain the blaze.

Bodies Recovered, More Feared Trapped

During search operations, police and fire brigade teams recovered three badly charred bodies from the site. Baruipur Police District Superintendent Shubhendu Kumar said the identities of the victims could not be confirmed immediately due to the extent of burn injuries.

Initial reports suggested that six people were missing after the fire broke out. Officials said it would only be clear whether more people were trapped once the debris is fully removed. Twelve fire engines were deployed to douse the flames.

Smoke Hindered Rescue Efforts

Power Minister Aroop Biswas, who visited the spot, said thick smoke inside the warehouse made rescue work extremely difficult. To improve visibility and release the smoke, a demolition team from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation was called in to break parts of the structure.

Authorities are now focusing on clearing the debris to assess the full scale of damage and confirm if more victims are inside.

Cause of Fire Yet to Be Determined

Officials said the cause of the fire is still unknown and an investigation has been launched. The extent of property damage is also being assessed. Police said further details will emerge once the site inspection is complete.

Separate Fire Tragedy in Hyderabad

In a separate incident on Sunday, five people, including two children and an elderly woman, were killed in a fire at a furniture shop in Hyderabad. According to police, the victims died due to suffocation.

The shop owner has been arrested, and a case has been registered under BNS Section 105, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Police said all five bodies were recovered from different parts of the building's cellar during the rescue operation.

The two incidents have once again raised concerns over fire safety norms in commercial buildings across the country.