3 houses gutted in Cox’s Bazar electric meter blast

Three houses were completely gutted in a fire triggered by an electric meter explosion in Nondir Para area of Pekua upazila in Cox’s Bazar district on Friday afternoon.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out at around 5:00 PM when an electric meter suddenly exploded, causing a short circuit that quickly spread flames in all directions. Within moments, the fire engulfed adjacent houses, reducing three homes to ashes.

The affected homeowners were identified as Forkan Ahmad, his brother Md Choton and Md Rakib.

Family sources said Forkan and Choton are currently in Saudi Arabia but have been facing severe financial hardship as they are reportedly without valid visas and employment. Meanwhile, Rakib, who lost his father earlier, is the sole breadwinner of his family and supports his mother.

Preliminary estimates suggest that the three families suffered losses amounting to approximately Tk 15 lakh in the sudden blaze.

Pekua Upazila Parishad former vice chairman Mahbub Karim and BNP leader Yusuf Rubel visited the scene around 7:00 PM and provided financial assistance to the affected families.

Former general secretary of Pekua Rindan Samity, Md Faruk, and its current vice president, Sajjadul Islam, also rushed to the spot to express sympathy and support for the victims.

Locals said residents tried to control the blaze immediately after it broke out, but by then all three houses had already been completely destroyed. The affected families are now living under the open sky in dire conditions.

NU/AM