At least 16 people were killed and hundreds injured in an terrible explosion at Siddique Bazar near Gulistan area in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. It is feared that the number of casualties may increase.
An explosion occurred at Siddique Bazar on North South Road in Dhaka on Tuesday around 5:15 PM. Two more multi-storied buildings were also damaged.
Just two days ago, three people were killed and at least 30 injured in an explosion in a building in Science Lab area of Dhaka.
More than 100 people have been treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The bodies of 16 people have been kept here.
11 fire service teams are working on the spot. Army and police personnel are also working with the fire service.
Search operations are being carried out to find those trapped under the rubble.
Director General of Fire Service Brigadier General Md. Main Uddin told reporters at the scene, “The building has become dangerous. The basement and ground floor have largely collapsed, the columns have been damaged. So we can’t get in.”
“We have taken the views of Rajuk and the army. We are taking support from the army. Now we are carrying out rescue operations on the upper floors. The work below will be done with the help of army. By stabilizing the building, we will start rescue work in full swing,” he says.
Regarding the cause of the explosion, he said, “We have spoken to the owner’s association here. They said there was no gas line underneath. But there were water lines and reservoirs. Because of this we cannot say the cause of the explosion yet. Police, army experts are working. We will investigate together with them and give a decision, so it will take some time.”
He said that since the market was open at the time of the explosion, they feared that more people might be trapped inside. But they cannot imagine how many there can be. The building will be stabilized and rescue operations will be carried out.
Babul Chakraborty, deputy director of the organization, told BBC Bangla this information at 8:30 am on Wednesday.
Mr. Chakraborty said the fire service is ready to start the rescue operation but structural clearance has to be obtained. “A team of three has been made. they will come you will see Then the operation can start again,” said Mr. Chakraborty.
On the other hand, information has been received that a total of seventeen people have been killed in this incident and the bodies of sixteen people have been handed over to their relatives by the Dhaka district administration at night. Many are still under treatment in hospital with serious injuries.
What kind of damage was the terrible explosion of people
In addition, there were some offices and residential flats on the upper floors of the building, locals said.
A partial glass window of a passenger bus on the road was blown out during the blast. Besides, several vans were waiting on the side of the road. Many van drivers were also injured as a result of the explosion, says Shahnewaz Rocky.
A BBC correspondent saw the injured being taken to hospital in a small truck.
Thousands of people gathered there after the blast. The building where the explosion took place housed a tiles and sanitary shop. Besides, there are several tiles and sanitary shops along with a bank nearby.
An official of the fire service told BBC Bangla that although the cause is not yet known, they can see similarities with the Moghbazar explosion in June 2021.
After the explosion incident, electricity supply was stopped in Siddiq Bazar, Nayabazar, North South Road areas of old Dhaka. There is a massive traffic jam on several nearby roads.
“The work below will be done with the help of the army. After stabilizing the building, we will start the rescue work in full swing,” he said.
He then said that since the market was open at the time of the explosion, they feared that more people might be trapped inside.
As the building has become dangerous, the fire service can start operations only after getting clearance from experts about its structural condition.
The explosion took place at Siddique Bazar on North South Road in Dhaka on Tuesday around 5:30 PM. Two more multi-storied buildings were also damaged.
11 fire service teams are working on the spot. Army and police personnel are also working with the fire service.
The basement, first and second floors of the building suffered the most damage. The roof of the first and second floors of the building collapsed and fell on the basement.
However, as the building became dangerous, a rescue operation was carried out on the upper floors at night.
Building 180/1 North South Road is also known as Cafe Queen Building. Because there is a restaurant called Cafe Queen on the second floor of this building. The ground floor is mostly sanitary and household goods shops.
In addition, there were some offices and residential flats on the upper floors of the building, locals said.
