A terrible fire that originated overnight at a Bailey Road restaurant of the capital so far killed at least 44 people, while 22 more are being treated in two major health facilities with burn wounds.
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen confirmed the matter to the media, reports BSS. .
“Thirty-three of the deceased died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and 10 at (nearby) Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery,” he told reporters at a briefing at around 2 in the morning on Friday.
The minister, himself a doctor and burn wound specialist, said 22 people were being treated at both the facilities.
He added that the conditions of all the 22 people are critical.
Doctors at the DMCH and the adjacent facility said that some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and feared the death toll could rise.
Fire service officials said they salvaged some 75 people, including 42 in an unconscious state from the scene, a seven-storey building.
The fire broke out at around 9:50pm at a restaurant called “Kachchi Bhai” located on the first floor (US: 2nd floor) and quickly spread upstairs where some more restaurants and a readymade garments shop were housed.
Witnesses and officials said the panicked people tried to rush upstairs to be chased by the blaze as well while the firefighters rescued many of them using ladders.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
