According to Xinhua News Agency, a deadly fire at two adjoining storage warehouses in India’s eastern state of West Bengal has killed at least 19 people, with dozens still reported missing.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday at a warehouse facility in the Najirabad area of South 24 Parganas district, about 12 kilometers south of Kolkata. Local media reported that 25 to 30 people may still be unaccounted for.
Authorities said several workers were believed to be sleeping inside the warehouses when the fire started.
Fire officials suspect the blaze may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Police have arrested the warehouse owner, and a forensic team has begun examining the site as part of an official inquiry.