2 dead in Chattogram fire

Two people have died and three others sustained burn injuries in a devastating fire in Bhuluar Dighir Par area of the port city of Chattogram, said Fire Service this morning (10 February).

The identities of the victims could not be known yet.

Contacted, Deputy Assistant Director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence Md Abdur Razzak said, "We received information about the fire at 6:42am. We quickly reached the spot and rescued five people trapped inside the houses on fire. Four units of fire service brought the blaze under control around 8am."

The fire might have been caused from an electrical short circuit, the fire service official added.

Md Emon, an eyewitness, said, "The fire started around 6:30am. The locals tried but failed to extinguish the fire. Later, fire service officials brought the fire under control. Many people were trapped inside the houses which were burning in the fire. Fire service officials rescued some of them and sent them to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment."

According to CMCH authority, five injured people were brought to the hospital, where physicians declared two of them dead.

The rest three were undergoing treatment at the Burn and Plastic Unit at the hospital, CMCH authority said.

The pair might have died after inhaling the smoke, said Md Mobarak, senior station officer at Chandanpura Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD)

Several rooms of five dwelling houses at the colony were gutted by the fire, causing damage of valuables worth several lakhs of Taka, said Mobarak.

The low-income group resides at the colony and fire incidents are reported almost every year.