Tuptup resort reduced to ashes in fire; victims identified
The Tuptup Restaurant and Resort, built of wood, has burned to ashes. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
Six people, including five women and a child, were killed in a fire at Tuptup Restaurant and Resort in Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. Another six people were injured, five of whom suffered burns and were admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. The resort’s three-storey wooden structure was completely gutted by the fire.
The fire broke out at around 7:30 am on Saturday at the resort in the Patuartek beach area, beside Marine Drive. Firefighters brought the blaze fully under control at around 11 am.
Talha Bin Jasim, media officer of the Fire Service, confirmed the deaths of the six people.
The deceased were identified as Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, and Milita Mehezabin Alvi, 23, from Banasree in Dhaka; Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, and Nafista Mim, 27, from Khilgaon; and Fariha Kabir, 33, from Chuadanga, along with five-year-old Faizan Ahmed.
The injured were identified as Shihab Uddin, 31, a doctor at Mugda Medical College Hospital; his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29; Mannan, 34; Meherunnesa, 30; Masud, 30; and Samida, 32.
Subuktogin Mahmud Sohel, resident medical officer at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, said, “Five of the injured suffered burns, affecting around five per cent of their bodies. Another person was injured in a fall. That person was given primary treatment and discharged. All five burn victims have been admitted to the hospital.”
Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Majumdar, officer-in-charge of Ukhiya Police Station, said the fire broke out at around 7:30 am on Saturday. After receiving the news, three Fire Service units arrived at the scene and began firefighting and rescue operations. The blaze was brought fully under control after a prolonged effort.
Syed Muhammad Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director of Cox’s Bazar Fire Service, said all three floors of the resort were made of wood. The entire structure was destroyed in the fire.
The resort is located about 29 kilometres from Kolatoli in Cox’s Bazar town. Local residents said that as the fire broke out, officials of the resort management left the scene.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and the extent of the damage could not yet be determined. Senior Fire Service official Dolon Acharya confirmed that investigations were under way to establish the cause of the fire and assess the losses.
