Fire breaks out at Shahbagh flower shops, 5 injured

Five people were injured in a fire that broke out at a flower shop at Shahbagh in the capital.

They have been admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

The fire erupted from a gas cylinder around 10pm on Saturday (March 5). Later, after an hour-long effort by five units of the fire service, the fire was brought under control around 11pm.

The injured are Riazul Islam (55), Md Shaon (25), Md Fayez (30), Md Kalu Mia (35) and Md Shamim (45).

The burnt people said that they fill gas into balloons from a gas cylinder and sell them at a shop adjacent to the flower market in Shahbagh. Five of them were filling gas into balloons at night. At that time, a fire suddenly broke out and they were burnt. Later, they themselves went to the burn unit of DMCH by rickshaw.

Dr Ashiq, a doctor at the Burn and Surgery Unit of DMCH, said five people were burnt and came to the burn unit from Shahbagh. Among them, 10 percent of Riazul's body, 16 percent of Shaon's, and 14 percent of Faiz's were burnt. All of them have been admitted.

In this regard, Assistant Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense Kazi Nazmuzzaman said the fire service received the news of the fire at 9:53pm. Fire service personnel brought the fire under control at 10:55pm. Five units of the fire service worked together to extinguish the fire.

“Eight flower shops at Shahbagh intersection were damaged in the fire. We believe that the fire started after a gas cylinder in a balloon exploded. Initially, the amount of damage was not known. Details can be given after talking to the affected shop owners,” he added.

Flower trader Monir Hossain said, "We had five shops, all of them have burned down. All our dreams have been burnt to ashes."

The Fire Service suspects that the fire and explosion might have originated from hanging electrical wires and hydrogen gas cylinders.