Mohebolla Dhaka :
A fire that broke out at a sawmill near Talta Market in Khilgaon, Dhaka, was brought under control after nearly two hours, according to the Fire Service.
Md. Shahjahan Shikder, spokesperson for the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department, stated, “The fire was brought under control at 9:35 AM with the efforts of nine firefighting units.”
Origin of the Fire :
Rashed Bin Khalid, duty officer at the Fire Service control room, reported that they received information about the fire at around 7:30 PM on Friday. Initially, two units were dispatched to combat the flames, but additional units had to be deployed as the fire spread rapidly, making it challenging to contain.
Casualties and Damage :
Hussain Muhammad Farabi, Assistant Commissioner of the Khilgaon Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), stated, “So far, we have received reports of injuries due to intense heat and cylinder explosions.” The injured individuals are receiving medical attention at a local hospital.
Md. Daud Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Khilgaon Police Station, mentioned, “The sawmill is located close to the police station. The fire also spread to a nearby vehicle garage.” He further added, “After the fire spread to the garage, a cylinder explosion occurred, worsening the situation.”
Traffic Disruptions :
Following the fire outbreak, traffic movement was restricted on the road in front of Talta Market. OC Daud Hossain stated, “The presence of a large crowd made it difficult for firefighters to operate effectively. Therefore, we decided to close a section of the road behind Talta Market.”
Investigation and Possible Causes :
Fire Service officials have confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire. However, preliminary speculations suggest an electrical malfunction or a gas cylinder explosion as possible triggers.
Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage. Local business owners and residents await an official report to understand the financial impact.
A Fire Service official stated, “As this was an old wooden sawmill, the fire spread rapidly. Once the fire is fully extinguished, we will conduct a thorough inspection and prepare a detailed report.”
Local residents remarked that fires in the Talta area are not uncommon. There have been multiple minor fire incidents in the past, but this is the most severe blaze in recent years.
