Dhaka, Oct 17 (V7N) – Thick white smoke continued to rise from the burned chemical warehouse in the Shialbari area of Rupnagar, Dhaka, on Thursday, two days after a devastating fire engulfed the facility and an adjacent garment factory. Although the intensity of the toxic smoke has decreased, the site remains hazardous, according to officials from the Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Firefighters reported that a knee-deep layer of chemicals has accumulated inside the warehouse, making the operation extremely risky. Experts from the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) who visited the site said the level of smoke is expected to drop further by Friday.

The fire has significantly worsened air quality in the Rupnagar area, which has ranked among Dhaka’s top three most polluted zones for three consecutive days. According to environmental monitoring data, the area recorded the second-highest air pollution level in the city on Thursday, attributed largely to the release of toxic fumes from the burned chemicals.

The Fire Service has formed a seven-member committee to investigate the incident. On Wednesday night, a case was filed at Rupnagar Police Station against warehouse owner Shah Alam and his manager, along with 10 to 15 unidentified persons, on charges of negligent homicide. “The case was filed by a relative of one of the victims,” said Officer-in-Charge Morshed Alam. “Police are actively working to apprehend the accused.”

During an on-site visit Thursday, firefighters were seen using mechanical blowers to push out trapped smoke and spraying water to dilute and flush out the remaining chemicals. Efforts to enter the warehouse in the morning were hindered by the dense fumes, though by afternoon the smoke had noticeably subsided.

Residents and factory workers in nearby buildings reported breathing difficulties and dizziness due to the chemical fumes. Several workers from a neighboring factory fell ill on Wednesday.

A four-member BCIC team led by Senior General Manager Manjur Reza inspected the site Thursday afternoon. Professor Zillur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience, a member of the team, said that the fire spread from the warehouse to the garment factory when flames escaped through broken windows. “Due to the toxic fumes, several workers lost consciousness and later died,” he said. “The smoke has reduced now, and we expect it to decrease further by Friday as fire crews continue their operations.”

Meanwhile, forensic experts at Dhaka Medical College Hospital conducted autopsies on ten additional victims on Thursday and collected DNA samples for identification. Lecturer Dr. Ayesha Parveen led the examinations, assisted by CID forensic analyst Shubho Joy Baidya. Autopsies on six other victims were conducted on Wednesday.

The Fire Service’s investigation committee is being led by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director of Operations and Maintenance.

The fire broke out around 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday in a warehouse storing industrial chemicals and an adjacent garment factory on Road No. 3 of Shialbari. Twelve fire units battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Sixteen bodies were recovered that day, many of which were completely charred and unrecognizable.

Authorities fear that the stored chemicals may have intensified the fire and contributed to the high number of fatalities, while environmental experts warn that toxic residue in the area could pose long-term health risks.

END/AJ/SMA/