Fire at Sajek under control, over 40 establishments gutted

A devastating fire broke out at different resorts in Sajek Valley, a popular tourist destination, in Rangamati's Baghaichhari upazila today.

The fire started at Ikup Valley tourist cottage around 1:00pm, said a local, Anitya Tripura.

However, the fire was brought under control three and a half hours after it originated, said Fire Service and Civil Defence media wing.

Moti Joy Tripura, secretary of Hotel, Resort and Cottages Association in Sajek Valley, said that at least 31 cottages, seven hotels and restaurants and 12 stationary shops were completely gutted in the fire.

Sajek Union Parishad Chairman Atulal Chakma said, "The fire spread rapidly due to the strong wind. When the fire broke out, the absence of a fire service in Sajek has made the situation even worse."

He, however, claimed that around one hundred establishments including cottages, hotels and shops were burned.

Rahul Chakma Joy, the organisational secretary of the Sajek Resort Cottage Owners Association, said, "Cottages on both sides of the road were burned down one after another."

The Dighinala Fire Service was informed immediately, locals said. The Dighinala area where the fire broke out is 40-42 km away from the Dighinala fire service station.

Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shirin Akhter were called several times, but she did not receive the phone calls.

According to a message of the fire service media wing, they received the information of fire at 1:05pm.

As there is no fire station in Sajek, one unit from Dighinala Fire Station rushed there to douse the fire. The fire fighters reached the spot at 2:40pm, read the message sent to media around 4:00pm.

It added that two units from Matiranga fire station, two from Langadu fire station, two from Panchhari fire station, one from Khagrachhari Sadar fire station, one from Ramgarh and two units from Lakshmichhari fire station were on their way, said officials.

The fire service media wing also said it's taking time to reach there due to the bad condition of the roads. There is also a crisis of water at the site.