Four charred bodies recovered from building after massive fire
The firefighters on Saturday morning recovered four unidentified charred bodies from a building in North 24 Parganas in New Barrackpore, West Bengal, where a devastating fire had broken out on early Thursday morning, in a vest manufacturing unit and other combustible item-filled godowns, including that of a medical retail chain. The manufacturing unit and godowns were located in a three-storied building in Bilkanada area.
The blaze raged on for almost 38 hours
At least 30 firefighters— including two robot firefighters, had been pressed into service since Thursday to douse the blaze that raged on for almost 38 hours. A senior official of the Fire Department said that the deceased are believed to be workers of the vest manufacturing unit, and the process to identify them was underway.
Bodies will be sent for post-mortem after identification
The official also pointed out that firefighters are currently putting out flames in the pockets of the building. "Drones were used to spot the four bodies, which would be sent for post-mortem after family members identify them," the official added.
Forensic team to probe the cause of the fire
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose said that a forensic team would be visiting the building to study and find out what led to the massive blaze. "It's an unfortunate incident. We are sending the bodies for post-mortem to Sagar Dutta Hospital. A forensic team will visit the site and conduct tests to find out the possible cause of the fire," he said.
Area has around 100 small industries
The fire reportedly spread across a 50,000 square-ft area. The Telegraph had earlier reported that the area has around 100 small industries and enterprises which do not match the prescribed fire safety protocols.
