The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is demanding immediate accountability following the catastrophic fire at a ‘Wow! Momos’ facility in Kolkata’s Anandpur neighborhood. At least 20 workers perished, and others remain unaccounted for after flames engulfed the warehouse-factory on Republic Day, January 26.
Many victims were resting inside the building when the blaze started abruptly. Survivors recount harrowing escapes amid smoke and structural failures, pointing to criminal oversight by operators who allegedly flouted basic safety norms. The NHRC has fired off a notice to the Kolkata District Magistrate under the 1993 Human Rights Act, requiring a detailed Action Taken Report in just three days.
Describing the event as a presumptive human rights infringement, the commission references violations of constitutional rights, factory regulations, and modern occupational safety codes. Scrutiny falls on multiple agencies: fire departments for delayed response, labor inspectors for overlooked hazards, and urban planners for faulty approvals.
The petitioner urges a top-tier independent inquiry, punishment for those responsible, financial aid and support for bereaved families, and comprehensive safety reviews province-wide. Led by member Priyank Kanoongo, the NHRC bench insists on a prompt emailed report alongside the formal submission. As India grapples with industrial accidents in informal sectors, this intervention could spark widespread reforms, ensuring no worker’s life is expendable.
