69 killed in deadly fire in Bangladesh capital

At least 69 people were killed and 50 others injured as a deadly fire broke out in a densely populated residential area at Chawk Bazar in old town of Bangladesh capital Dhaka late Wednesday night, reported local media.

New Age, a leading English language daily published from Dhaka qouting .Fire service control room said that the fire broke out following an explosion at a chemical warehouse housed in a five-storey building at Churihatta around 10:45pm.

The fire immediately spread to another adjacent building as 37 units of fire fighters rushed the spot to contain the fire till 1:45am.

Primary reports quoting locals suggested that the fire followed an explosion.

Another nearby building was also on fire but the extent of the damage could not immediately be determined.

Clouds of smoke in the area made it difficult to notice if the fire spread further to other buildings in a neighbourhood world famous for its dense population.

The medical premises became filled with a sudden rush of relatives of the victims and onlookers after 11:00pm.

Fire service control room said that they were trying to put out the fire till 2:00pm.

The fire brings back to mind the devastating fire that had broken at Nimtoli in the old Dhaka town in 2010 killing 124 people and injuring 200 others.