Upto 200 shanties were gutted in a devastating fire that broke out in a slum near the Firingi Bazar Fishing Ghat in the port city of Chattogram on Monday afternoon, leaving a good number of lower-income people homeless.

Though a local ward councillor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) claimed that the number of damaged shanties would be 200, Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) authority outlined the number at 87.  

Abdur Razzak, deputy director (DD) of Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD), Chattogram Zone, said the fire originated from one of the shanties in Laitta Ghat Basti (slum) around 1:20 pm, engulfing adjacent shanties within a short time.

Being informed, nine firefighting units from Nandankanan, Chandanpura and Agrabad stations rushed to the spot and brought the flame under control around one and a half hours after the fire erupted, he said, adding that around 87 shanties were gutted in the fire.

DD Razzak informed that the fire originated from an electronic short-circuit and the flame is now under control.

Local ward councillor Hasan Murad Biplob said though they are yet to receive any concrete data about the number of the damaged shanties, the number would be around 200.

He informed that CCC Mayor Rezaul Karim and district deputy commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman wanted to know the list of the damaged shanties from him.

The local representative also informed that they have arranged meals for the  people and their compensation would be considered.

Slum resident Md Faruk said he was asleep when the fire erupted and came out hurriedly sensing the heat of the fire.

Fire-affected Sabrina Begum said, "I don't know why God has put me to test. After Eid, I took a loan of Tk 50,000 for my daughter's marriage and kept it in the cupboard of the house. All burned in the fire.”

Witness Salauddin said a branch of a coconut tree fell on an electric wire which led to the devastating fire.