Tampaco fire death toll hits 33

The death toll from the fire that raged through the Tampaco Foils packaging factory in Tongi has climbed to 33 with the recovery of four more bodies from the debris today.

Fire-Fighters pulled out two bodies from the rubble in the morning while army recovered two others around 1:00pm and 2:00pm respectively.

Lt Colonel Mohammad Rashidul Hasan, director of Inter Services Public Relation Directorate, was speaking at a press briefing at the spot around 2:20pm after a team of Bangladesh Army joined the rescue operation.

On Sunday, the Fire-fighters found four bodies under the debris of the factory while another victim Ripon Das, 35, died at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.

Addressing the press briefing, the ISPR director also said there was a stock of 25 tonnes of chemicals at the factory when the fire broke out on Saturday.

About the reason behind the fire, he said they are yet to get sure about it. Replying to a query, Rashidul said it cannot be said right now as to how long the rescue operation will continue.

He also said the rescue operation will continue on a small scale on the day of Eid-ul-Azha on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a murder case was filed against eight people, including factory owner Syed Md Mokbul Hossain, with Tongi Police Station on Sunday night, said Tongi police OC Firoz Talukder.

In the early hours of Saturday, the deadly fire triggered at Tampaco Foils packaging factory in Tongi BSCIC industrial area of Gazipur by explosion.

With inputs from UNB