Identities of 10 Victims of Resort Fire Confirmed

The identities of 10 people killed in a fire at the Tup Tup Resort in Patuartek, Inani, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, have been confirmed. Women and children were among the victims, and six of the deceased belonged to the same family. Six others were injured.

The fire broke out around 7am on Saturday (October 17) at the three-storey resort, built of brick and wood, beside the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive. Many tourists were asleep when the fire started and became trapped in their rooms. Almost the entire resort was gutted.

According to a list published in the media, the deceased were identified as Israt Jahan Maliha, 30, of East West University; Melita Mehezabin Alvi, 23, of Jagannath University; Laila Jahan Nabila, 27; Nafista Mim, 27; Faria Kabir, 33, Nafiz’s elder sister; her five-year-old nephew Faizan Ahmed; Nasrin Akter Mukta, 29, a teacher at Swapna Bilash School, a private educational institution in Savar, Dhaka; Dhaka University students Md. Nafis Tehami, Jihad Howlader and Tarikul Islam.

The six injured were taken to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital. They were identified as Dr Shihab Uddin Sadi, 31, a physician at Mugda Medical College Hospital; his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29; Mannan, 34; Meherunnesa, 30; Masud, 30; and Samida, 32.

Syed Morshed Hossain, assistant deputy director of the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service Station, confirmed the information about the casualties.

Witnesses said a loud bang came from the resort’s kitchen before the fire spread rapidly throughout the building. Fire service personnel later launched a rescue operation. Several people who managed to jump out to escape the flames survived.

After visiting the scene, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md. Abdul Mannan said a gas cylinder explosion was initially suspected to have caused the fire. However, an investigation committee headed by the Additional District Magistrate has been formed to determine the actual cause. The findings will be known after the committee submits its report.

Police said the Tup Tup Resort had nine rooms. Tourists staying in three rooms checked out on Friday night, while 16 people remained in the other six rooms. Five or six of them were outside early Saturday morning for various purposes.

Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman also said a gas cylinder explosion was suspected to have triggered the fire.