9 Killed in Eastern Railway Headquarters Fire: ‘Both Railways and state govt are at fault… Will my son come back?’

“We are all mourning Amit's untimely demise. We are by the side of the late colleague's family, and will be by all means,” Kolkata Police said.

Written by Sweety Kumari

Kolkata | Updated: March 10, 2021 08:42 AM IST

3 min read

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The fire broke out on the 13th floor of an Eastern Railway building in Kolkata’s Strand Road. (Express photo: Partha Paul)

“He was very hardworking. Throughout the day, he would remain active,” Debjit Chatterjee, the officer in charge of Hare Street Police Station, said as he recalled colleague Amit Bhawal who was one of the nine people killed in the fire at Eastern Railway headquarters on Strand Road in Kolkata on Monday night.

As police personnel gathered at Lalbazar on Tuesday afternoon to pay their last respect to the departed Assistant Sub-Inspector, everyone stood shocked. “He was posted at Hare Street Police Station for the past three years. People in the area knew him,” Bhawal’s another colleague, who had trained with him, said.

On Monday evening, after receiving the news of the fire in the multi-storied building, Bhawal was one of the first people to reach the spot. “The situation was critical. Some people were stuck in the 13th-floor office. Realising that time could not be wasted, Amit Bhawal tried to climb to the 13th floor to rescue people. But he got trapped in the fire,” said police.

As his wife Pinki and son Adir reached the SSKM Hospital morgue to identify the body, they were inconsolable.

“We are all mourning Amit’s untimely demise. We are by the side of the late colleague’s family, and will be by all means,” Kolkata Police said.

Besides Amit Bhawal, eight others died in the inferno – Fire officials Girish Dey (40), Gaurav Bej (35), Aniruddha Jana (29), Biman Purkait (24), Deputy CCM of Railways Partha Sarathi Mondal (59), senior railway clerk Shrawan Pandey (56), railway staffer Sudip Das ( 57) and RPF personnel Sanjay Sahani (36).

A pall of gloom descended in the city’s Dhapa road neighbourhood when residents came to know about the death of Aniruddha Jana in the fire. Aniruddha, who worked as an Auxiliary Fire Operator on a contractual basis, was identified by a silver wrist chain since his face was badly charred. “I lost my wife a year ago. My daughter got married just a month back. I only had Aniruddha and now it’s all over for me,” said Aniruddha’s father Mohan Lal Jana.

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Jana was also a Trinamool Congress worker. “He completed his education but wasn’t getting a proper job despite being a bright student. So he graduated in Journalism and Mass Communication did Masters in English. He had nothing in hand so was working in the Fire Department,” said his father.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called Mohan Lal Jana and extended her condolences.

“Whenever there is such an incident all concerned authorities try to shrug off their responsibility and put blame on each other. Why there was no fire fighting equipment in such a highrise building. Secondly, why couldn’t the government check it on time? Both the Railways and the state administration are at fault. Will my son come back? Only those who have lost their family member would know the pain. For rest, it is just a matter of time,” he added.

Sweety Kumari

Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats. Experience & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal. Extensive Tenure: Over 10 years of experience in the media industry, with a long association (8 years) with The Indian Express, contributing to a high level of Trustworthiness. Diverse Coverage: Covers crucial beats including Crime, Defence, Health, and Politics, alongside writing on trending topics. Investigative Focus: Possesses a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories, demonstrating depth and skill in impactful journalism. Beat Versatility: Has honed her craft across diverse beats, including aviation and reporting on various incidents, ensuring well-rounded and comprehensive reportage. Career Start: Began her journalistic journey as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a news portal in Kolkata, providing a foundational understanding of media landscape and audience engagement. Education Advanced Education: Holds a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, equipping her with advanced media theory and skills. Undergraduate Education: Holds an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College. Multilingual Skill: Her fluency in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili enhances her reach and capability to connect with diverse sources and communities in the region, adding a layer of accessibility and authenticity to her reporting. Regional Roots: Originally from Bihar, she was brought up and educated in Kolkata (Kendriya Vidyalaya Salt Lake), giving her a deep, personal understanding of the cultural and political nuances of her reporting region. Sweety Kumari's combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. ... Read More

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