By Sagnik Mukherjee
On January 26, 2026, a massive fire tore through a warehouse complex near Ruby Crossing in the Anandapur area of Kolkata, West Bengal. The warehouse was used by WOW! MOMO, a large Chinese food chain, owned by Indian capitalists, operating across the length and breadth of the country. The fire reportedly broke out at around 3:00 AM, originating in an adjacent decorator's godown, before rapidly engulfing the nearby WOW! Momo warehouse. Initial reports confirm the recovery of 16 charred bodies, while 23 workers remain missing. Subsequent investigations revealed that both structures lacked even the most elementary fire-safety arrangements.
The fire minister arrived at the site only a day after the incident ; an arrival that itself stands as a damning indictment of the...