A sudden fire broke out in Dhaka’s huge Korail slum area, rendering thousands of people homeless within a matter of hours. Let us tell you that this colony is home to about 80,000 people and is adjacent to upper class areas like Gulshan and Banani. Small houses with tin roofs built in narrow streets were burnt to ashes within a short time.
It is noteworthy that after the fire, people were seen somehow picking up their belongings and running out, but most of the people lost everything in this fire. About 19 fire engines were sent to the spot, but due to heavy traffic and narrow roads, firefighters had to struggle a lot. They reached inside with great difficulty by pulling the pipes and also faced difficulties in arranging water supply. It took more than five hours to control the fire.
Fire service officer Talha bin Jasim said that it was impossible to take the engine inside, so the team had to work on foot from street to street. Although no casualties have been confirmed yet, according to local people the damage is huge. Amina Begum, a victim woman, could only cry and say that everything had been burnt and now she was unable to understand how she would survive.
Let us tell you that fire incidents are not new in Bangladesh. Weak enforcement of government rules and unorganized settlements are considered to be the main reasons for these accidents. Hundreds of people have lost their lives in such accidents in the last few years. This latest incident at Coral is once again raising serious questions about fire safety and the affected families are struggling to make a new start in their lives. Administration and local organizations are busy on the spot to help them. The situation has come under control, but pictures of sorrow and devastation are still visible all around. The people living here are now spending their days in the hope of shelter and assistance.