The Hidden Cost of the "Wow" Factor: 5 Critical Takeaways from the Kolkata Warehouse Tragedy For millions of Indian consumers, the " Wow! Momo " brand represents a quintessential homegrown success story—a venture-backed giant that scaled from a single kiosk into a market leader valued at over ₹2,400 crore. Yet, the inferno that consumed the company’s Anandapur warehouse on January 26, 2026 , has pulled back the curtain on a grim "backstage" reality. While we celebrate the speed and convenience of modern food delivery, the charred remains in Kolkata suggest a systemic failure where safety protocols were treated as optional. This was not merely an accident; as local labor groups and investigators are beginning to suggest, it bears the hallmarks of a " man-made disaster ." 1. The Locked-Door Policy: When Security Becomes a Death Trap The most chilling revelation from the Anandapur site is the reported "locked-door" policy. To prevent inve...
The Hidden Cost of the "Wow" Factor: 5 Critical Takeaways from the Kolkata Warehouse Tragedy For millions of Indian consumers, the " Wow! Momo " brand represents a quintessential homegrown success story—a venture-backed giant that scaled from a single kiosk into a market leader valued at over ₹2,400 crore. Yet, the inferno that consumed the company’s Anandapur warehouse on January 26, 2026 , has pulled back the curtain on a grim "backstage" reality. While we celebrate the speed and convenience of modern food delivery, the charred remains in Kolkata suggest a systemic failure where safety protocols were treated as optional. This was not merely an accident; as local labor groups and investigators are beginning to suggest, it bears the hallmarks of a " man-made disaster ." 1. The Locked-Door Policy: When Security Becomes a Death Trap The most chilling revelation from the Anandapur site is the reported "locked-door" policy. To prevent inve...