Massive fire broke out in Dhaka leaving at least 70 people killed and several injured

Massive fire broke out in Dhaka leaving at least 70 people killed and several injured

Guwahati: Around 70 people have been killed when a massive fire broke out at Dhaka after a chain of explosions in an apartment building.

The fire broke out in a building where chemicals for deodorants and other household uses were reported to be stored illegally. The fire spread at lightning speed to four nearby buildings according to fire service report.

People were trapped in the buildings and unable to escape as the narrow streets are clogged with traffic. "At least 70 people were killed and the toll may likely to increase as rescue operation is still continued," said Bangladesh Fire Chief Ali Ahmed.

Doctors, however, said that at least 10 of the scores of injured were in critical condition. The firefighters took almost 12 hours to bring the fire under control and went through the blackened floors of the building littered with spray cans and looking for bodies.

The fire broke at around 10.40pm on Wednesday at Chawkbazar in the Old Mughal part of the capital city of Dhaka. The fire chief Ahmed said that the fire might have broken due to a gas cylinder and quickly spread through the building where the chemicals were stored in rooms alongside the apartments for which the fire has spread so badly.

The fire chief further informed that the people couldn't escape as the fire has been spread so quickly that roads gets clogged. More than 200 firefighters have made their efforts to douse the fire which took long time as the fire is not like any other fire. The fire officer said that the inferno had been more devastating by the highly combustible chemicals.

Officials also informed that the streets are so narrow that it has become difficult for fire brigades to get into the street and there was also lack of water for the battle. The main gate of one five-storied building was chained up which trapped residents inside.

The bridal party member in a nearby community hall have also been trapped in the hall as the fire has spread to that level and many got injured.

Deputy Police Commissioner of Dhaka said that at least two cars and 10 rickshaws have been gutted in fire and people who were in a nearby restaurant got injured as the fire also caught in the restaurant.

Doctors in Dhaka hospital said that 55 people were injured in the fire of which 10 are in a critical condition.

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