Rumour of factory fire leaves worker dead

A female worker died while 30 others were injured when panic-stricken employees of a garment factory in the capital tried to escape to safety on a rumour of fire.
Marzina Khatun, 23, died at ZH Sikder Women's Medical College and Hospital. Of the injured, 17 were admitted to Sikder hospital, while three were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and 10 others at local clinics.
Sub-Inspector Kamal Uddin of Mohammadpur Police Station said the railing of the second floor staircase collapsed succumbing to the weight of rushing workers. About 40 people fell downstairs due to this. Marzina was crushed under the people who fell down.
An injured female worker said smoke had been seen coming out of a piece of machinery on the 4th floor of the seven-storey building. People outside had also noticed the smoke and raised the alarm. The shouting from outside had led to the panic, she added.
A fire service official said they had received a fire call around 3:15pm. When four fire engines reached the factory, Apparel Today, near the Mohammadpur embankment area, they found no fire, he said, adding that they had found about 40 injured people on the ground floor.