Kolkata, Jan 27: At least eight people were killed and several others are feared missing after a devastating fire at a warehouse in Kolkata’s Anandapur area in the early hours of Monday.


A search operation is currently underway at the site as many people have been reported missing.


According to reports, the incident took place at around 3 am in twin godowns located in the Najirabad area under the Narendrapur police station limits, on the outskirts of Kolkata. The warehouse was primarily used to store dry and packaged food and soft drinks.


The flames spread across two adjacent warehouses, reducing almost everything to ashes. Several employees on the night shift were trapped inside the building.


On being informed, twelve fire tenders were pressed in service to douse the flames. It took nearly seven hours to bring the blaze under control. Even after that, pockets of fire continued to smoulder in parts of the gutted structures, officials said.


During a search operation, three charred bodies were recovered around 5 pm. Five more bodies were found later in the evening, taking the death toll to eight.


Baruipur police district SP Shubhendu Kumar said the victims could not be identified as the bodies were burnt beyond recognition.


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He added that the exact number of casualties would only be known after the debris is completely cleared and the remaining fire pockets are fully extinguished.


Most of the dead and missing are believed to be from Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas districts, said the senior official.


More details are awaited.