Fire at Tongi pharmaceutical factory brought under control, no casualties reported
Fire Service personnel work to bring a fire under control at the Drug International Limited factory in Tongi. Photo: Fire Service
The Fire Service and Civil Defence has said a fire at a pharmaceutical factory in Tongi, Gazipur, was brought under control after four hours of efforts. The force’s Director General, Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Junaid, said no one was killed or injured in the incident.
The fire broke out in a building at Unit 2 of Drug International Limited on Beximco Road in the Cherag Ali area of Tongi at around 10:30 am on Wednesday.
A total of 19 Fire Service units rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel also joined the firefighting efforts.
Fire Service Director General Brigadier General Junaid announced that the fire had been brought under control at around 2:00 pm.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, he said, “Although the fire has not been completely extinguished, it is now under control. This means the fire is no longer spreading.”
Describing the extent of the damage, Brigadier General Junaid said, “Two buildings have been damaged. The second and fourth floors of the building where the fire first broke out have been severely damaged. The other floors have also sustained considerable damage. Powder, injections and various types of medicines were manufactured there. As a result, minor explosions occurred. The smell of chlorine made it difficult to breathe inside. Even so, Fire Service personnel entered the building and tried to bring the fire under control.”
He added, “Damping operations are being carried out to bring the fire completely under control. This may continue until tomorrow. The fire is under control, meaning no new fire is breaking out. However, it will take some more time to deal with the embers inside and the fire that remains smoldering.”
“So far, no one has been killed or injured and no one is trapped,” the Fire Service director general said, adding, “We will be able to say how many people have been injured after the rescue operation is completed. Twenty-one units are working here.”
Regarding the cause of the fire, he said, “It cannot be confirmed at this point exactly how the fire started.”
