Kolkata, Jan 26 (NationPress) The police have reported the tragic demise of three individuals due to a significant fire at a warehouse located in the Anandapur region, situated on the southern fringes of Kolkata, with many others still unaccounted for.

Authorities mentioned that around 15 fire engines are actively engaged in battling the flames that erupted at the dry food storage facility around 3 am. Rescue operations are currently ongoing. Firefighters have managed to partially contain the blaze and have entered the premises using gas cutters.

The facility in Nazirabad, Anandapur primarily housed dry packaged food and soft drink bottles.

The fire department indicated that the inferno spread to two nearby warehouses, leading to significant destruction.

Reports of the fire emerged in the early hours, but due to the warehouse's location in a narrow alley, firefighters encountered challenges in extinguishing the flames, as water supply required long hoses, delaying the control efforts.

Nonetheless, after the efforts of 12 fire engines, the blaze was brought under partial control by 11 am. Some sections remain ablaze, and operations to extinguish the remaining fires continue. Later in the day, three additional fire engines were dispatched to the site.

State Power Minister Aroop Biswas visited the location, offering condolences to the families of the victims. He inspected the rescue operations and engaged with families of the missing.

The minister stated, "The police and fire service teams are collaborating to extinguish the fire. I have been informed that the fire is largely under control, and firefighters have entered the building. The status of any potential victims trapped inside will be clarified later. This is not the moment for political discourse; instead, we must allow the police and fire service to perform their duties."

The origin of the fire remains unknown. Workers on the night shift were trapped inside, and it has been reported that six security guards were also caught in the blaze. Locals have claimed that the warehouse was locked from the outside, preventing those inside from escaping.

In the afternoon, Baruipur Police District Superintendent Shubhendra Kumar announced, "We have confirmed the deaths of three individuals. The search continues for others." There are concerns that the death toll may increase. Meanwhile, relatives have gathered outside the warehouse.

Families of the trapped workers indicated that the fire had been raging since 3 am. The workers had made calls from within, even attempting to breach a wall to escape, after which communication was lost.

A relative of a victim shared, "My son-in-law was in the warehouse, working the night shift. He called at 3 am saying 'save me.' We rushed over, but found no one. We still haven’t located him. The fire is ongoing, and the firefighters have stated that no information can be provided until the flames are out."

Another warehouse employee mentioned, "The last communication we received was them trying to break a wall to escape. After that, we lost all contact."

A fire brigade official noted, "There is a residential building situated behind this factory. Approximately 100 residents have been evacuated safely. However, those inside the warehouse could not be rescued, as their phones are turned off."

The state's Fire Minister, Sujit Bose, commented, "I received the news at 3 am. There are two warehouses in this vicinity—one belongs to a well-known momo company, and the other is operated by a catering service. The fire department is actively managing the situation, and everything is being monitored closely to control the flames."