A catastrophic fire wreaked havoc in the heart of the capital’s Bailey Road, leading to the tragic demise of at least 46 individuals. The genesis of this devastating incident can be traced back to a small shop on the ground floor of a building.
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General (DG) M Khurshid Hossain disclosed, “The fire erupted when a gas cylinder in a ground-floor shop exploded, quickly engulfing the entire structure. Given the building’s array of restaurants, numerous gas cylinders exacerbated the situation.”
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the site and meeting the injured at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, DG Hossain provided insights around 11:30 am on Friday.
In response to queries regarding the building’s fire safety measures, he explained, “The structure did have an emergency fire extinguishing system in place, and attempts were made to utilize it. Unfortunately, the situation spiraled out of control when multiple cylinders exploded.”
On Thursday night, Mohammad Ali Mia, Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police, also confirmed that the fire originated from the ground floor of the building.
The grim toll of the incident stands at 46 casualties, with over 20 individuals sustaining severe injuries as a result of the devastating fire on Thursday night.
Firefighters heroically rescued 70 people, including 42 who were found unconscious, from the rooftop and various floors of the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage.
The inferno erupted at approximately 9:45 pm, leading to a tragic sequence of events. Most casualties occurred as people resorted to desperate measures, either jumping off the building or succumbing to burns and suffocation.
Fire officials emphasized the rapid spread of the blaze, attributing it to the numerous gas cylinders scattered across restaurant kitchens on several floors. The presence of thick smoke in the staircase hindered evacuation efforts, leaving many trapped within the building.
This heart-wrenching incident underscores the critical need for stringent fire safety measures and raises questions about the adequacy of emergency protocols in such structures.
