Seven killed, 10 injured in Ashulia factory fire

Seven people were killed and 10 others injured in a fire that broke out at a readymade garment factory in Jamgara of Ashulia in Savar on Sunday evening.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals, with several reportedly in critical condition.

Hafizur Rahman, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Dhaka Zone-4, confirmed the deaths and said four fire service units were working to bring the blaze under control.

He said the fire broke out when a gas cylinder exploded while it was being unloaded from a covered van.

Five of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition and their identities could not immediately be established.

Of the other two victims, Salma Akter, 30, died on the way to hospital after being rescued from the scene, while Bulbul Islam, 45, died while being taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Six critically injured people were sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment, while four others were admitted to a local hospital, officials said.

The fire broke out at the F&F factory of Preeti Group in the Jamgara Chowrasta area around 6:45pm.

The fire service reached the spot around 8pm and four units were working at the scene to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters faced difficulties reaching the factory due to severe traffic congestion and the poor condition of the roads, where work on the Ashulia Elevated Expressway is underway.

Litton Mia, a line man at a nearby garment factory and a witness, said the fire spread through the factory after a loud explosion of a gas cylinder.

Harun-or-Rashid, manager of the local Women and Children Hospital, said 10 burn patients had so far been admitted to the hospital.

"Six of them were in extremely critical condition and were sent to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital," he said.

Hemayet, administrative officer of Preeti Group's F&F factory, said no workers were trapped inside the factory.

He said the fire broke out at one corner of the factory's boundary wall and confirmed that a gas cylinder had exploded.

Shahabuddin, senior station officer of Zirabo Fire Service, said firefighters faced considerable difficulties in reaching the scene because of traffic congestion and the poor condition of the road.

Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Industrial Police-1, confirmed the deaths and said rescue workers could not immediately enter the entire area due to the intense fire inside the factory and traffic congestion on the road.

The fire spread rapidly to large parts of the factory as highly combustible fabrics and chemical substances were stored there, he said.

As of 12:15am, the intensity of the fire had decreased but it had not yet been brought completely under control, Fire Service official Shahabuddin said.