CoralRaphael599 at 07:22, 7 November 2025

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{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox News event
|image=
|caption=
|date= {{Start date|df=yes|2006|11|22}}
|time=2:30 IST
|place=[[West Bengal]], India
|casualties1=10-12 dead
|casualties2=18 injured}}
The '''2006 Kolkata leather factory fire''' was a deadly industrial fire that occurred in [[West Bengal]], India, on 22 November 2006. The fire broke out in a leather bag factory located in the Tannix International, [[Topsia]], in the [[South 24 Parganas district]] in Greater [[Kolkata]] area, and generated a wave of criticism of the poor safety standards in place among the various factories in the country.

The industrial fire claimed the lives of at least ten people, who were unable to escape because the doors were locked shut illegally. Authorities, in response to local residents' angry criticism, admitted that the emergency response to the accident was substandard. Two separate investigations were launched. One inquiry focused on the fire itself, while the other sought to ascertain criminal responsibility for the disaster as well as the operation of the illegal factory.<ref name="IRNA"/> The results of both are either pending or have yet to be released to the general public.

==Background==
Investigators confirmed that the site of the fire had been used as an illegal factory to manufacture leather bags.<ref name="IRNA">{{cite news |title=Nine Die, 18 Injured in Kolkata Factory Fire - Irna |url=http://www.irna.com/en/news/view/line-20/0611229711182210.htm |work=[[Islamic Republic News Agency]] |date=2006-11-22 |access-date=2009-07-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070517201828/http://www.irna.com/en/news/view/line-20/0611229711182210.htm |archive-date = 2007-05-17}}</ref> The factory was located on the third floor of a four-story building,<ref name="cnnibn">{{cite news |title=Fire in Kolkata factory, 9 dead |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fire-in-kolkata-factory-9-feared-dead/26734-3.html |work=[[CNN-IBN]] |date=2006-11-22 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 July 2009 |archive-date=22 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522113033/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fire-in-kolkata-factory-9-feared-dead/26734-3.html }}</ref><ref name=telegraphnov2306>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061123/asp/frontpage/story_7038977.asp | title = Locked in to be burnt to death—Nine killed in illegal factory in illegal house | publisher = The Telegraph, Calcutta | date = 2006-11-23 | access-date = 2009-07-13 | archive-date = 30 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033202/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061123/asp/frontpage/story_7038977.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> which also featured residential units.<ref name="express">{{cite news |title=Fire in Kolkata leather factory kills 9 people. |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=77400 |work=ExpressIndia.com |date=2006-11-22 |url-status=dead |access-date=13 July 2009 |archive-date=28 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928190021/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=77400 }}</ref> Investigators determined that the first and second floors of the structure housed additional illegal factories.<ref name=telegraphnov2306/> The factory destroyed in the fire was found to be owned and operated by Tenex Exports,<ref name=telegraphnov2306/> and all of the people who were killed or injured in the fire slept in the factory at night, a situation that is not considered unusual in India. There was just one [[emergency exit]], and 40 workers were housed in the structure at the time of the fire,<ref name="indiadaily"/> and the owner had locked the factory at night to prevent workers from running away with leather goods.<ref name="express2"/> The building was located in the Tannix International, Topsia, in the [[South 24 Parganas district]] of Greater Kolkata region.<ref name="cnnibn"/><ref name="indiadaily"/>

==Event and emergency response==
[[File:Kolkata Factory Interior Post-Fire.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The interior of the factory after the fire had been extinguished.]]
The fire broke out in the factory at around 2:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]],<ref name="cnnibn"/> as workers slept. Once they became aware of the blaze, the employees found they were unable to break through the factory's locked doors. Five [[Fire apparatus|fire tenders]] were sent to the scene,<ref name="cnnibn"/> but by the time they arrived, local residents had broken down two locked gates and already rescued the surviving workers.<ref name=telegraphnov2306/> These impromptu rescue efforts were delayed however, when an individual carrying keys to open the door nervously dropped them while attempting to open the gate.<ref name=telegraphnov2306/> At least 10 people were dead by the time rescuers reached the factory's interior,<ref name="calcuttatelegraph2">{{cite news |title=The men who died young |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061124/asp/calcutta/story_7043750.asp |work=Calcutta Telegraph |date=2006-11-24 |access-date=2006-12-19 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930050236/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061124/asp/calcutta/story_7043750.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> with a further eighteen injured. The survivors, many suffering from burns over 70 percent of their bodies, were taken to the [[Calcutta National Medical College|National Medical College and Hospital]], where victims had to be left on the floor due to a shortage of beds.<ref name="indiaenews"/> The hospital did not have a burns unit, and the only treatments available at the hospital were ointments and saline drips. The patients were eventually moved to other hospitals.<ref name="indiadaily"/> Local MLA [[Javed Ahmed Khan|Javed Khan]] later said that the death toll is actually at least twelve, but there has been no official confirmation of this.<ref name="cnnibn"/><ref name="tribune"/> The [[Rapid Action Force]] was also deployed to maintain calm.<ref name="cnnibn"/><ref name="indiaenews"/>

===Criticisms of the emergency response===
{{Wikinews|Nine killed in Kolkata leather factory fire}}
People living in the vicinity of the illegal factory said that the number of deaths might have been reduced had the fire service responded promptly. They claimed that the fire brigade failed to send personnel or equipment to the scene until more than an hour after the brigade first received word of the fire. Residents also claimed that it was only after the police arrived and requested fire service backup that any help was sent.<ref name="cnnibn"/> In addition, some on the scene reported an inadequate number of ambulances.<ref name="tribune">{{cite news |title=12 charred to death in factory fire |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061123/nation.htm#9 |work=The India Tribune |date=2006-11-22 |access-date=2006-12-19 |archive-date=7 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107221807/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061123/nation.htm#9 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city's mayor admitted to this lapse the following morning.<ref name="tribune"/> Local people also complained that the victims should never have been taken to the Calcutta National Medical College, but that they should have been transported directly to hospitals with burns units.<ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news |title=Locked-in workers charred in Topsia |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/Cities/Kolkata/Locked-in_workers_charred_in_Topsia/articleshow/533998.cms |work=The Times of India |date=2006-11-23 |access-date=2006-12-19 |archive-date=16 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516040953/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/Cities/Kolkata/Locked-in_workers_charred_in_Topsia/articleshow/533998.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Investigations==
===Accident investigation===
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire as well as the reason the building had been locked from the outside.<ref name="indiatimes"/> To this end, the building was inspected by the KMC, and was subsequently scheduled to be demolished on Thursday, 23 November. However, the structure is standing {{as of|2007|lc=on}}.<ref name="indiadaily"/> Although no actual cause of the fire has been established, it has been noted that large quantities of [[Flammability|inflammable material]]s, such as adhesives, were stored inside the building.<ref name="cnnibn"/> It was also revealed that the factory experienced a similar fire two years previously, but on that occasion there were no fatalities.<ref name="express2">{{cite news |title=Locked-in workers battle death by fire |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=210476 |work=Express India |date=2006-11-23 |access-date=2006-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106164601/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=210476 |archive-date=6 January 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Criminal investigation===
A separate criminal investigation focused on the illegal factory itself.<ref name="IRNA"/> Almost all factories and homes in the area were illegal and unauthorised,<ref name="indiadaily">{{cite news |title=Factory Fire in Kolkata Causes 9 Deaths |url=http://www.indiadaily.org/entry/factory-fire-in-kolkata-causes-9-deaths/ |work=India Daily |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all |access-date=13 July 2009 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220321/http://www.indiadaily.org/entry/factory-fire-in-kolkata-causes-9-deaths/ }}</ref> and do not follow building codes and sanctions.<ref name="express2"/> Mayor [[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]] said action would be taken against the owners of the factory and house, and [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]] of Police of South 24 Parganas S. N. Gupta said that the owners of the building would be arrested.<ref name="indiaenews">{{cite news |title=Leather factory fire kills nine |url=http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20061122/29648.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185542/http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20061122/29648.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=27 September 2007 |work=India eNews |date=2006-11-22 |access-date=2006-12-19 }}</ref> Investigation has shown that the [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] (KMC) issued notices to the building on three separate occasions, in 1988, 1989, and 1992, yet took no further action. It has been shown, however, that the KMC also approved trade licences for two businesses to operate from the building.<ref name="indiadaily"/> The owner of the building, Khurshid Alam, has had a police complaint filed against him by the fire department for illegal construction charges. Mohammed Sagir Ahmed and Mohammed Asif, the owners of Tenex Exports, also face related charges.<ref name=telegraphnov2306/> Both investigations are ongoing.

==Aftermath==
The day after this tragedy, workers in the unorganized leather industry of Topsia area held protest rallies demanding compensation for the relatives of the deceased workers, better working conditions and a probe into the fire mishap.<ref name=telegraphnov242006>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061124/asp/frontpage/story_7043798.asp |title=Fire lights spark of protest—Workers march in sweatshop zone's first rally |publisher=The Telegraph, Calcutta |date=2006-11-24 |access-date=2009-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706201751/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061124/asp/frontpage/story_7043798.asp |archive-date=2008-07-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The mayor of Kolkata convened an all-party meeting to discuss the incident and also promised to initiate a drive demolish illegal constructions in the area.<ref name=telegraphnov242006/> The labour inspectors inspected the building and declared the factory as illegal.<ref name=telegraphnov242006/> Even though the building was declared illegal and unsafe, a month later, the police raided the house and found that another leather factory was operating behind closed doors in the ground floor of the building.<ref name=telegraphdec292006>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061230/asp/jamshedpur/story_7200647.asp | title = Bag unit sealed | author = Imran Ali Siddiqui | publisher = The Telegraph, Calcutta | date = 2006-12-30 | access-date = 2009-07-13 | archive-date = 23 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121023114454/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061230/asp/jamshedpur/story_7200647.asp | url-status = dead }}</ref> The civic officials issued a notice to stop any work in the building.<ref name=telegraphdec292006/> Though local residents alleged that clandestine work started in the building with the help of local MLA, Javen Khan, Khan himself blamed it rather on the police.<ref name=telegraphdec292006/>

In 2008, two more fire mishaps occurred in the leather industries in the area, one in the month of March and the other in June: a total of nine people got injured in these two incidents.<ref name=telegraphjune1708>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080617/jsp/calcutta/story_9422571.jsp | title = Sweatshop belt plays with fire & life—Lessons from 2006 Topsia Road tragedy forgotten; illegal businesses continue to thrive | publisher = The Telegraph, Calcutta | date = 2008-06-17 | access-date = 2009-07-13 | archive-date = 20 June 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080620084741/http://telegraphindia.com/1080617/jsp/calcutta/story_9422571.jsp | url-status = dead }}</ref> Even though [[fire safety]] licenses and insurances for the workers of the leather factories were made mandatory after the fire incident of 2006, none of the authorities—the municipal corporation, the services department of the state government, and the police—ensured that these were actually followed by the factories.<ref name=telegraphjune1708/> The local residents claimed that the owner of the factory that was impacted in the fire incident of 2006, now operates from another address of the same area.<ref name=telegraphjune1708/> According to fire brigade officials, the Topsia area along with nearby [[Tiljala]] and Tangra forms the most fire-prone area of the city, and that around three to four fires break out every week, though they do not get reported in the media as there is no loss of life.<ref name=telegraphjune1708/>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolkata Leather Factory Fire}}
[[Category:2006 in India|Kolkata leather factory fire]]
[[Category:Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes]]
[[Category:2000s in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Disasters in West Bengal]]
[[Category:2006 fires in Asia|Kolkata Leather Factory Fire, 2006]]
[[Category:2006 industrial disasters|Kolkata Leather Factory Fire, 2006]]
[[Category:Industrial accident deaths|Kolkata leather factory fire]]
[[Category:Leather industry in India]]
[[Category:Industrial fires and explosions in India]]
[[Category:Building and structure fires in India]]
[[Category:November 2006 in India]]

2006 Kolkata leather factory fire - Revision history

CoralRaphael599 at 07:22, 7 November 2025