Dhaka, Oct 15 (V7N) — The devastating fire at a garment factory and chemical godown in Shialbari, Mirpur, has not been fully extinguished even after 21 hours. As of Wednesday morning, toxic smoke continues to billow from the damaged building, spreading a suffocating chemical odor across the area.

More than 50 people from nearby buildings have reportedly fallen ill due to exposure to the fumes and have been admitted to local hospitals.

Authorities said that nearby offices and factories have been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. Workers from several establishments, including Rising Group, were among those affected by the chemical smoke. Some companies declared an emergency leave for employees amid the ongoing risk.

The fire originated around 11:30 am on Tuesday (October 14) at the Shah Alam Chemical Godown, which shares premises with a garment factory in Rupnagar, Shialbari.

So far, 16 bodies have been recovered from the debris, confirmed the Fire Service and Civil Defence. The **bodies—believed to be nine men and seven women—**have been sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for identification. Officials said that the remains will be handed over to relatives after DNA testing.

Firefighters are still working to extinguish the remaining hotspots amid the heavy chemical smoke. The exact cause of the fire and the extent of damage are yet to be determined.

END/SMA/AJ