DHAKA, Nov 24 (NNN-BSS) – A massive fire tore through one of the largest slums in Dhaka early today, destroying around 100 shanties and leaving hundreds of people homeless.
A total of 12 fire units battled hard for hours to extinguish the blaze, at about 4:00 a.m. local time today, Fire Service Headquarters Duty Officer, Lima Khanom, said.
The slum, called Saat Tola, in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area, is a densely populated residential complex, home to thousands of poor residents.
No casualty has been reported so far. And the firefighters have not determined yet, the exact cause of the blaze.
According to the official, the fire originated at around 11:45 p.m. local time last night, and it soon engulfed many shanties.
“98 of the shanties made of scrap sheet iron, plastic and cardboard were destroyed fully or partially, in the devastating fire,” said the official.
But local media reports put the number of shanties destroyed in the fire at several hundreds.
Many affected slum dwellers were seen lamenting this morning, as most of them left behind all valuables to save their lives.
In the capital, Dhaka, every year, fires leave thousands of slum dwellers homeless.– NNN-BSS
