Devastating fire burns over 100 shops to ashes in Cumilla
The cause of the fire and the extent of damage yet to be known, no casualties reported
More than 100 shops have been burnt to ashes in a massive fire at Madhaiya Bazaar, located on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, in Cumilla's Chandina upazila.
The fire started around Sunday midnight. Six firefighting units brought the blaze under control at around 3:30am today (30 December) after three hours of effort, fire officials said.
The fire also created a long tailback on the highway. The traders who fell victim to the fire had gathered and joined the fire service's efforts to douse the fire alongside locals.
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Madhaiya Bazaar Traders Association President KM Jamal said, "The fire has gutted more than 100 shops. Most of us have lost everything. We are trying to determine the extent of losses."
The cause of the fire and the extent of damage are yet to be known. No casualties were reported as well.
Cumilla Fire Service and Civil Defence's Acting Assistant Director Newton Das said the fire originated from a sweets shop and spread to the bazaar very quickly.
Due to the high intensity of the fire, four firefighting units from Daudkandi and Cumilla fire stations soon joined the two units that arrived at the scene first from the Chandina station. All of them brought the flames under control after three and a half hours.
