According to local media reports, a fire broke out in a restaurant situated within a seven-floor property around 22:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Thursday. The blaze prompted a swift response from emergency services, leading to the rescue of seventy-five individuals and the transportation of numerous others to nearby hospitals. Firefighters managed to bring the inferno under control within a span of two hours.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with initial suspicions pointing towards safety deficiencies. Fire service officials highlighted the absence of emergency exits in the building and the hazardous storage of cooking gas cylinders in stairwells and restaurant kitchens.
Tragically, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen confirmed that at least 33 people, including women and children, lost their lives at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Additionally, ten others succumbed to their injuries at the city’s primary burns hospital, with twenty-two individuals reported to be in critical condition.
The emergency response was triggered by a fire outbreak at the Kacchi Bhai restaurant within the multi-storey complex, as reported by the Daily Bangladesh newspaper. The building also housed other dining establishments, as well as various clothing and mobile phone shops.
The head of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, Brigadier General Main Uddin, suggested that the fire may have originated from a gas leak or stove malfunction. He underscored the perilous conditions within the building, citing the presence of gas cylinders on every floor, including staircases.
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, with one restaurant manager named Sohel describing frantic attempts to evacuate amidst thick smoke. Some individuals resorted to unconventional means, utilizing water pipes to descend from the building, albeit sustaining injuries in the process.
Mohammad Altaf, another survivor, narrowly escaped the flames through a broken window. He lamented the loss of two colleagues who valiantly aided in the rescue efforts, only to tragically perish later on.
The incident underscores the recurring issue of fires in commercial and residential buildings across Bangladesh, attributed to inadequate safety protocols and lax enforcement of regulations.