3 of a family killed in Ctg slum fire

At least three members of a family were killed in a fire that broke out at a slum in Pahartali area of Chattogram city on Friday night.

The fire broke out at the tin-shed thatched houses of Azam Road's slum in AK Khan Road- Rail Crossing area of the port city at around 7:00pm, said fire service and civil defense sources.

The deceased were identified as: Abu Taher (60), his wife Ayesha Begum (50) and their one-and-half-year old grandson Rashed.

The fire originated from woven materials in Abu Taher's house and soon spread to the adjacent houses, said Farid Ahmed, deputy assistant director at Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters.

"The victims were trapped inside the house during the fire.

On information, two units of firefighters with ten fire engines rushed to the spot and doused the flame around 8:45pm after frantic efforts," the official said.

The firefighters rescued the trio from the house and sent them to Chattogram Medical College Hospital where doctors declared them dead, Farid Ahmed also said.

Around 30 rooms of five thatched houses were gutted in the fire. The extent of damage caused by the blaze could not be ascertained immediately, he added.