6 of same family among 7 killed in Inani resort fire

Six members of the same family are among seven people whose bodies have been recovered after a fire broke out at Tuptup Resort in Inani, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday morning. At least six people were injured, while several others are reportedly missing.

The fire broke out around 8am on Saturday at Tuptup Resort in the Patuartek beach area along Marine Drive. Six of the victims belonged to the family of Ashiqul, a resident of Banasree in Dhaka. They were identified as Melita Mehejabin Alvi, Nabila, Maliha, Mila, Jerif and Faizan.

Six people were injured in the incident. They were identified as Mannan, 34, Meherunnesa, 30, Masud, 30, Samida, 32, Nafiza Nawar Khan, 29, and Shahabuddin, 31.

Panna Akter, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Ukhiya, said nine members of Ashiqul’s family had been staying at the resort. The bodies of six of them had been recovered, while the remaining three were admitted to hospital.

Atiqur Rahman Majumdar, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said 27 people had been registered as guests at the resort, nine of whom were outside the premises when the fire broke out. He said further details could not be confirmed until rescue operations were completed.

A Fire Service official named Morshed told reporters at noon that six bodies had been recovered and six injured people had been rescued and taken to hospital. Two of the injured were discharged after receiving first aid, he added.

Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abul Mannan said all the dead and injured were tourists. The fire is suspected to have originated from a stove in the resort’s kitchen.

A five-member investigation committee, headed by an additional deputy commissioner, has been formed to determine the cause of the fire, he said.

Resort personnel reportedly fled the premises following the fire.