New Delhi, January 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the devastating fire in Kolkata's Anandapur, which occurred on Monday. Offering his condolences to the bereaved families, the Prime Minister announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.

In a post shared on X, the Prime Minister's Office stated that the compensation would be provided from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The statement read, "The recent fire mishap in Anandapur, West Bengal, is very tragic and saddening. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF will be provided to the families of the deceased, while the injured will receive ₹50,000.”

As per the latest reports, three people have been arrested in connection with the incident, which has left at least three people confirmed dead. Rescue operations have been concluded, with search teams continuing their efforts to ensure no one else remains trapped. Authorities are also investigating the cause of the fire.

The fire broke out early on Monday in a warehouse, prompting an immediate emergency response. Firefighting teams were quickly dispatched, and the area was cordoned off by the police to facilitate the rescue operation.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader, Suvendu Adhikari, led a protest rally today in response to the incident. Earlier, BJP leader Amit Malviya raised concerns on social media, alleging that Trinamool-backed Bangla Pakkho had falsely claimed that 50 people had perished in the fire. Malviya called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the tragedy, stating that the investigation should be Supreme Court-monitored to ensure accountability.

In response to the incident, Sinjini Sengupta, Block Development Officer (BDO), confirmed that three bodies had been recovered, with ongoing search operations to locate others. Authorities are carefully inspecting the site to determine the cause of the fire, while the firefighting teams continue their efforts to ensure the area is completely secured.