20120923 Many trapped in Uttara fire
Bangladesh Sep 23 2012 “Apartment houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Web Source: The Daily star
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=41073
Date: 23 September, 2012
Country: Bangladesh
Many trapped in Uttara fire
Star Online Report
At least 50 people are believed to be trapped at their apartments after a fire broke out at a multi-storey building at the city’s Uttara Sunday evening.
The fire began around 7:00pm at Tropical Alauddin Shopping Complex at Uttara Sector 3, fire service officials said.
Firemen, who through their loudspeakers asked the trapped people to take shelter on the building’s rooftop, rescued many with the help of a ladder.
But, around 50 people are still believed to be trapped inside the building, Brig Gen Abu Naim M Shahidullah, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence, told The Daily Star at 9:40pm.
A plume of smoke shrouded different floors of the 16-storey building, the officials said. Of the building, the first six floors are the parts of the shopping complex while the upper portion is used as residential apartments.
Locals said the stranded people on the upper floors are trying to attract the attention of rescuers by flashing their mobile phone lights and waving clothes.
Some of the residents who managed to get out of the building said many people were still trapped in their apartments due to prevailing smoke.
Several firefighting units from Dhaka and Gazipur rushed to the spot and were trying to bring the fire under control until 8:30pm when the report was filed.
The fire supposedly originated from a short circuit at the generator in the building’s basement.
Former home minister Shahara Khatun who has been elected lawmaker from that constituency and Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandaker visited the spot.