A devastating fire gutted 18 semi-pucca residential rooms and reduced them to ashes in Kayukkhali Para area of Teknaf Municipality in Cox’s Bazar.
Between 8 and 10 tenant families have lost all their belongings in the inferno. The incident took place at around 9:30am on Friday in Ward No. 3 of the municipality. No casualties were reported.
According to fire service and local sources, an electrical short circuit is initially suspected to have triggered the blaze. As the dwellings were situated adjacent to one another, the fire spread in an instant.
Although residents managed to rush out of their homes, most families had no chance to salvage their belongings, including furniture, clothing, and essential documents.
Teknaf Fire Service Station Officer Md Kamruzzaman Suman said, “Upon receiving news of the fire at 9:45am, two units of the fire service reached the spot at 9:51am. Following nearly an hour of concerted effort, the fire was brought under control at 10:40am. It was completely extinguished later at 11:20am.”
He further informed that, according to initial estimates, 18 semi-pucca residential rooms and a nelkuni belonging to homeowner Abdus Salam were burnt, causing damages of approximately Tk3 lakh.
However, the prompt action of the fire service personnel succeeded in saving surrounding assets worth around Tk40 lakh.
The affected tenant families, who had lived in the rented houses for a prolonged period, have been plunged into extreme hardship following the incident. Having lost their shelter alongside vital possessions, they are currently stranded in a helpless state.
Local residents have demanded swift government and non-government assistance for the affected families.
They also urged the authorities concerned to inspect vulnerable electrical connections across the area and take necessary measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
