Dhaka: A massive fire in Bangladesh that raged through a six-storey building home to restaurants where many families with children were dining has killed at least 46 people, the health minister said. At least 75 other people were injured, fire officials said.
Fire authorities said a gas leak or a stove could have caused the blaze in the capital, which spread quickly after breaking out in a biryani restaurant, and was only brought under control following two hours of effort by 13 units of firefighters. Witnesses said the building had one staircase and elevator, with no emergency exit, making escape difficult. Some people trapped inside jumped from higher floors, they said.
Hospitals were treating 22 people with burns, health minister Samanta Lal Sen said. “All 22 people ... are in critical condition,” Sen said after a visit to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The fire could have originated from a gas leak or stove, said Brigadier General Main Uddin, a fire service official. “It was a dangerous building with gas cylinders on every floor, even on the stairs,” he said, adding that it had a single staircase, lacking ventilation, an emergency exit and other safety features. “The cause of the fire is being investigated,” he said. The govt has set up a five-member panel to investigate the incident.