107 shops, 31 houses gutted in Patuakhali fire; 35 injured
A man tries to retrieve items from his shop gutted in a devastating fire at Kalishuri bazaar in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali on Friday night. The fire burnt to ashes at least 106 other shops and 31 dwelling houses.Photo: STAR
A devastating fire gutted at least 107 business establishments and 31 dwelling houses at Kalishuri bazaar under Baufal upazila on Friday night. Thirty-five people, including three firemen were injured while fighting the 4-hour-long fire. Six fire service units from Baufal, Patuakhali and Amtali brought the fire under control at 12.30am, Abdul Khaleq, officer of Baufal fire station said. The fire completely gutted 25 cloth shops, 20 hardware shops, 20 cosmetic shops, 15 groceries, 5 electrical shops, 6 shoes stores, 7 tailoring shops, two book shops, 3 restaurants, 2 fuel shops, 2 mobile phone shops and 31 dwelling houses. Fire service and upazila administration sources said, the fire originated from an electrical short circuit at an electrical shop owned by one Harun and soon spread to the adjacent shops and dwellings. There were over 1000 various business establishments in the 100-year-old bazaar. On information, fire service men from Baufal upazila town rushed to the spot. As it was not enough to control the fire, the upazila administration sought help of Patuakhali and nearby Amtali upazila fire units. The extent of damage was very high as the shops were too close to each other, local UP chairman Anwar Hossain Bachchu said. Goods and assets worth Tk 50 crore were damaged by the fire, said UNO of Baufal Mrinal Kanti Da. "We will seek aid from the authorities to rehabilitate the victims", he said. In Laxmipur, at least 12 shops were gutted in a fire which broke out at the Municipal Hawkers' Market in the town yesterday morning. Fire service sources said, the fire broke out at a shop of the market around 6 am and soon engulfed the adjoining shops. The reason behind the fire could not be known immediately, reports UNB. On information, two fire fighting units from Laxmipur Sadar and Begumganj upazila headquarters of Noakhali district rushed in and extinguished the flame after two hours of hectic efforts with the help of local people. The affected shop owners claimed that the extent of loss from the fire could go up to Tk 5 crore. In Narsingdi, seven houses were gutted in a devastating fire in Paschim Kandhir Para area of the district town on Wednesday night, reports our correspondent. Locals said the fire originated from a gas riser at about 10:30pm and quickly spread to the adjoining houses. On information, three units of Narshingdi fire service reached the spot and brought the fire under control after an hour long effort. The affected families claimed that the damage caused by the fire would be around Tk 20 lakh.
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