The fire at S Alam Sugar Mill in Karnaphuli Upazila of Chittagong was not brought under control even after eight hours. Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Army are working with 14 fire service units to control the fire. The fire broke out at S Alam Sugar Mill in Karnaphuli Moizzartek area around 4 pm on Monday (March 4).
The fire started at 4 pm and was not brought under control till 11 pm. A laborer named Mohammad Alam (30) was seriously injured.
Confirming the injured, the engineer in charge of the factory Mohammad Hasmat said that a worker named Mohammad Alam (30) was seriously injured in the fire. Fire service personnel rescued him and sent him to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. He was working in a factory.
Assistant Fitter Monir of S Alam Refined Sugar Industries power plant said that there were about 1 lakh tons of unrefined sugar in that warehouse. They are burnt. There are several hundred thousand tons of refined sugar nearby.
An official of the factory said that the fire service workers are not able to sprinkle water from the top of the warehouse. There is a river next to it. There is no shortage of water. Finished goods warehouses may be saved if fires are extinguished by helicopters. The fire is believed to have started from an electrical short circuit.
Assistant Director of Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defense Abdul Malek said that 18 units of Anwara, Karnaphuli and Agrabad Fire Service are working to control the fire.
Divisional Commissioner, Development (Additional Charge) Muhammad Anwar Pasha, who visited the site at night, said the fire was still confined to the factory. There is no possibility of fire outside. Members of the Navy, Army and Air Force are working to control the fire. 18 units of fire service are also working to control the fire.