At least 80 shops were gutted in a fire which broke out at Kerangchhari Bazar in Bilaichhari upazila of Rangamati district on Monday.
Mir Abu Towhid, superintendent of Rangamati Police, said the fire broke out at a tea shop around 12:30 pm and soon spread to the adjacent shops.
On information, a firefighting unit, local administration, army, police and Ansar members rushed to the spot but failed to douse the flame immediately due to lack of water and heat wave.
Eighty shops in total, ranging from small to big and houses were gutted in the fire, said Towhid.
However, the local administration failed to fully douse the fire.
The extent of the damage caused by the fire could not be ascertained yet.