Bangladesh building fire: Death toll touches 19
Dhaka, Mar 29 (IBNS): The death toll in the massive fire, which broke out at a high-rise building in Bangladesh capital Dhaka's upscale Banani area on Thursday, has touched 19, media reports said on Friday.
Over 70 people were injured in the fire incident that occurred in the 22-storey FR Tower just months after another blaze tragedy in the capital left 71 people dead in February.
The death toll may rise, fear officials saying the search operation would continue till today morning, reported The Daily Star.
Brig Gen Sazzad Hossain, director general of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, told the newspaper they would continue the search operation in the building till 10:00am today and then hand it over to police.
Fire erupted on the sixth floor of the building at around 1 pm and spread rapidly as fire fighters fought for nearly six hours to douse the flames at around 7 pm.
The exact cause of the fire is still not known.
The fire service DG on Thursday told media that the building had little fire safety equipment and those were also in unusable condition.
Several people were trapped in the building after the fire broke out.
"Scores were spotted on ledges of the building, desperately trying to climb down to safety. A few others grabbed ropes lowered by rescue helicopters, which pulled them out of the blaze," reported The Daily Star.
Several people were seen falling to their death as they tried to jump down from the building to escape the blaze.
Some people were caught on camera breaking window panes to make a route to escape from the building while others were seen waving their hands desperately to get some help.
A total of 22 firefighting units, backed by the army, the navy and the air force personnel worked hard to bring the flames under control.
Even helicopters were used to sprinkle water on the building.
The deceased included one Sri Lankan national.
Eleven of the dead were identified as Rumki Akhter, 30; Masudur Rahman, 32; Nirosh Vignarajah, 30; Abdullah Al Faroque, 32; Mamun, 32; Monir 50; Amir Hossain Rabbi, 29; Sheikh Jabin Tasnim Bristi, 27; Anjir Abir Siddiqui, 26; Fazle Rabbi, 27; and Monjurul Hasan, 45, reported The Daily Star.
The injured people were rushed to different hospitals in Dhaka for treatment.
Country's President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed their shock on the loss of lives in the tragedy.
February Inferno:
The fresh fire incident occurred just months after 71 people were killed in a blaze that broke out in Old Dhaka's Chawkbazar area in February.
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