As many as 98 shanties have been gutted as a devastating fire broke out at a slum in Mirzarpool area under Panchlaish police station of the port city.
The incident of fire took place on Friday morning and no casualty was reported.
Firefighters said narrow lanes of the slum made it difficult in reaching the spot and they also faced acute water shortage to put out the blaze.
A devastating fire burns shanties at a slum in Mirzarpool area of Chittagong city on Friday, January 24, 2020 | CollectedThe fire originated from a short circuit around 10:35am, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room in Agrabad.
Fifteen firefighting vehicles from different fire stations of the city rushed to the spot and doused the fire after four and a half hours of frantic efforts around 3pm.
Farid Ahmed Chowdhury, deputy assistant director of Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defence, told Dhaka Tribune: "Primarily, we suspect that the fire originated from a short circuit. Total 98 shanties of the slum owned by eight persons were gutted in the fire. The extent of damage due to the fire is yet to be ascertained."
