30 shops gutted in fire at Dighinala, Khagrachhari

Fire. Representational image.

Khagrachhari, Mar 26 - A devastating fire has once again destroyed at least 30 business establishments at Boalkhali Bazar in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachhari early Wednesday.

The fire broke out at Tripti Hotel around 1:45 am and spread soon to adjoining shops, said Md Jakaria, officer-in-charge of Dighinala Police Station.

Mohammad Zaker Hossain, deputy assistant director of Khagrachhari Fire Service, said five firefighting units from Khagrachhari, Longadu, and Dighinala rushed to the scene.

With the assistance of the army personnel from Dighinala Zone, police, and local residents, the fire was brought under control after an hour and a half around 3:30 am, he said..

Traders said clothing stores, hardware shops, grocery stores, restaurants and other shops were reduced to ashes and the extent of losses would be around Tk 5 crore.

This is the third major fire incident in the area within a year.

On March 7 this year, a fire caused by a short circuit destroyed over 150 shops at Larma Square, causing damages worth Tk 4 crore.

Earlier, on September 19 last year, a fire—allegedly set by miscreants amid ethnic clashes—burnt down the entire Larma Square market, leaving hundreds of families from both indigenous and Bengali communities in financial ruin.

Authorities, including the fire service and law enforcement agencies, have launched an investigation into the latest incident. - UNB