Death toll from Mirpur factory fire rises to 16

The death toll from the devastating fire that swept through a printing factory and chemical warehouse in Mirpur’s Rupnagar area on Tuesday has risen to 16, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.Fire Service Director Tajul Islam confirmed the updated figure in the evening, saying that many of the victims are believed to have died from exposure to toxic gas emitted from the burning chemicals.Earlier in the afternoon, rescuers had recovered nine bodies from the building. The number climbed to 16 by around 7:15 pm as search and rescue operations continued inside the charred structure.Fire officials said many workers were trapped inside because the rooftop exit was locked, preventing them from escaping.The presence of highly flammable chemicals made the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time for evacuation,” said an official at the scene.The fire was first reported around 11:40 am, and the first firefighting unit reached the spot at ...

• 14 Oct 2025