36 shops gutted

A fire gutted at least 36 shops in Ruma upazila of the district yesterday. Locals said the fire originated from a stove of one Jamal's shop and soon engulfed 35 adjacent shops at Ruma Bazar around 12:20pm. As there is no fire fighting unit in the nearby areas, members of Bangladesh Army with the help of locals and police doused the blaze after three hours of frantic efforts. The extent of losses caused by the fire could go up to Tk 50 lakh, Ruma Upazila Parishad Chairman Aung Thoai Sing Marma said.