kathmandu |A massive fire in Bangladesh swept through a six-story building housing restaurants where many families with children were dining, resulting in the death of at least 45 people and injuring dozens, announced the health minister on Friday.
According to fire authorities, a gas leak or a stove may have triggered Thursday’s inferno in the capital, which quickly spread after starting in a biryani restaurant. It took the efforts of 13 units of firefighters two hours to bring the blaze under control.
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen informed reporters that hospitals are currently treating 22 individuals with burn injuries, all of whom are in critical condition, following his visit to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed shock and sorrow over the incident, directing officials to ensure prompt treatment for the injured. Survivor Mohammad Altaf recounted his harrowing escape from the fire that claimed the lives of two of his colleagues.
“I went to the kitchen, broke a window, and jumped to save myself,” he told reporters, adding that a cashier and server who had urged people to evacuate during the initial moments later perished.
Firefighters utilized cranes to rescue people from the charred building, while fire officials continue to clear debris and extinguish any remaining embers.
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Relatives gathered at the hospital early Friday to receive the bodies of the deceased, with some mourning outside the emergency department. Doctors stated that most of the victims died from suffocation, while others perished while attempting to escape the building, which also housed clothing and mobile telephone shops.
Brigadier General Main Uddin, a top fire service official, suggested that the fire could have originated from a gas leak or stove. He highlighted the perilous nature of the building, which had gas cylinders on every floor, including the stairs, and lacked emergency exits and other safety measures.
The government has established a five-member panel to investigate the incident. The main opposition party blamed the government for the fire, citing a lack of accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
Intensive scrutiny of Bangladesh and major global clothing retailers manufacturing there has helped avert disasters in the garment sector since a 2012 fire and a 2013 building collapse claimed the lives of over 1,200 workers. However, in other industries, particularly those catering to the booming domestic economy with inadequate safety measures, hundreds of people have died in fires.
Fires are frequent occurrences in densely populated Dhaka, where numerous new buildings lack adequate safety measures. Faulty gas cylinders, air conditioners, and poor electrical wiring have led to fires and explosions.
In July 2021, 54 people, including many children, perished in a fire at a food processing factory outside Dhaka, while a February 2019 fire that engulfed a centuries-old precinct claimed the lives of at least 70 people.