In a swift move highlighting worker safety concerns, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the devastating fire at the ‘Wow! Momos’ warehouse-cum-factory in Kolkata’s Anandpur area. The incident, which claimed at least 20 lives and left several workers missing, has exposed glaring lapses in industrial safety protocols.
The fire erupted on January 26, catching numerous laborers off guard as they slept inside the premises. Eyewitness accounts and initial reports paint a grim picture of chaos, with inadequate fire exits and poor safety measures contributing to the tragedy. The NHRC, acting under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has issued a notice to the Kolkata District Magistrate, demanding an Action Taken Report (ATR) within three days.
Prima facie, the commission views this as a blatant violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Allegations of criminal negligence by the ‘Wow! Momos’ management have surfaced, alongside questions over the roles of fire services, labor department, urban planning authorities, and local administration.
The complaint invokes key legislations including the Factories Act 1948, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020, Disaster Management Act, and judicial precedents. It calls for an independent high-level probe, accountability for culpable officials and company executives, compensation and rehabilitation for victims’ families, and a statewide safety audit of similar facilities.
A bench presided over by NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo has directed the district magistrate to investigate the claims thoroughly and submit the report, with a copy via email. Future actions will hinge on this submission, signaling the commission’s zero-tolerance stance on such preventable disasters. This case underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of labor laws across India’s burgeoning food processing sector.