Animals burnt alive as fire ravages Gabtoli livestock market

Animals have been burnt alive in a massive fire at Dhaka's largest livestock market in Gabtoli.

Around 13 cows and 26 goats were killed when the market caught fire at 10am Thursday.

Another 14 cows that suffered burns were immediately slaughtered by the market's traders.

More than 50 goats have been stolen in the chaos of the fire, claimed Mojibur Rahman, the head of livestock traders’ association in Gabtoli.

The majority of cattle owners were not near their animals when the market caught fire, he said. "That is why there is so much damage. There was no way to see who was taking away the cattle."

The shed used to store goats have been completely gutted, he said, demanding prompt restoration.           

Five firefighting units were able to bring the blaze under control after continuing efforts for half an hour, said Fire Service control room official Nazma Akhtar.

But three sheds of the market were already gutted in the fire, said OC Md Selimuzzaman of Darussalam Police Station.

Losses caused by the fire were yet to be estimated.

The fire began at a two-storey shed in the market and then spread to the two neighbouring units, said one of the market’s traders.

Several hundred cattle were housed in the three sheds, but most were rescued by people at the market. The market itself had at least 4,000 cows, buffaloes and goats when it caught fire. 

The sheds at Gabtoli are made of plastic so it accelerated the spread of the fire, said Sarwar Hossain, a member of the market's organising committee.

"The plastic roof melted on top of the animals that were tied up, making it impossible to save them. The ones that were tied up with ropes could be saved. But the ones tied up with metal chains perished," he told bdnews24.com.     

Thursday’s blaze follows a smaller fire five months ago, he said.

"That fire didn’t leave much damage. The hay used as feed caught fire. It was probably a cigarette that started it. But we don’t believe that is the reason for today's fire."