A devastating fire broke out at a Momo manufacturing factory in Anandapur late Sunday night, leaving six workers missing. The fire, which started around 1:30 am, is still not fully under control even after several hours.
According to fire department sources, at least 12 fire engines were rushed to the spot. However, firefighters said they have not yet been able to reach the main section of the factory, where the fire is believed to have originated. As of this morning, efforts to completely douse the flames were still ongoing.
At the time of the incident, six workers were reportedly inside the factory on night duty. All six are currently unaccounted for. Other employees of the factory gathered at the site as news of the fire spread.
The situation escalated rapidly due to the large quantity of palm oil and gas cylinders stored inside the factory. Fire officials said this made the blaze extremely intense within minutes, severely hampering rescue efforts. Although fire engines arrived promptly after being alerted by eyewitnesses, the flames were initially uncontrollable. The fire was brought under partial control only by dawn.
Families of the missing workers are in deep distress. They claim they have been unable to contact their relatives by phone. While one phone is reportedly still ringing, there has been no response. It remains unclear whether the workers are trapped inside the factory or managed to escape during the chaos.
A relative of one missing worker shared a harrowing account saying, “He suddenly called me at night and said he was suffocating. He said, ‘I don’t think I’ll survive. There’s a fire in the factory. If you don’t come and save me in five minutes, I’ll die.’ After that, there was no contact. We informed the firefighters. They are trying, but nothing can be confirmed until they enter the factory.”
Meanwhile, an employee of the Momo manufacturing company blamed a decorator’s company for the incident. He alleged that equipment belonging to the decorators was stored adjacent to the factory, despite repeated warnings. “We told them many times to remove their equipment because the factory contains flammable materials. A fire here could be disastrous, but the owner did not listen,” the employee said.
He further claimed that he spoke to the night-duty workers by phone when the fire broke out. “They said they were trying to break out, but after that, there has been no contact,” he added.
Local residents have also expressed strong anger and frustration. They alleged that minor fires had occurred earlier and that they had repeatedly warned authorities, especially since residential houses are located nearby.
“No one took action then. Now, such a huge disaster has happened,” a resident said.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. Rescue and firefighting operations continue, as families and residents anxiously await clarity on the fate of the missing workers.
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