Karail inferno escalates: 11 teams battling blaze, 5 more rushing in

The fire in Karail slum continues to rage uncontrollably as firefighters struggle to reach the heart of the blaze through heavy traffic and congested lanes.

As of 6:45 pm Tuesday, November 25, 11 fire units are actively trying to control the inferno, while five additional units are still en route, said Rashed Bin Khalid, Duty Officer at the Fire Service control room.

“Seven units reached the spot at 6:05 pm and began operations. Later, five more units were dispatched. Some are still stuck in traffic,” he confirmed.

The fire was first reported at 5:22 pm.

On-site observations show fire crews facing severe challenges due to the slum’s narrow passageways and a massive traffic snarl stretching from Walbhanga Boubazar Road to Beltola Road. Pickup trucks and other vehicles have choked access routes, leaving several fire engines stranded at the Beltola intersection.

Due to the delay, firefighters have been forced to run long-distance water pipes and use portable generators to pump water—efforts that have shown little impact so far as flames continue to spread across densely packed homes.

Some units managed to reach the area via Mushar Bazar and Kapal Potti Road, allowing limited water deployment.

Residents say the fire spread rapidly and the delay made the situation worse.

“If the pickup trucks didn’t block the road, the fire service would have come earlier and controlled it,” said Akbar Hossain, a slum resident.

He added that although some fire engines arrived within half an hour of the incident, most could not reach the burning structures.

Authorities have yet to confirm the origin of the fire or whether there have been any injuries or fatalities. The slum, one of Dhaka’s largest, is densely populated, raising fears of significant displacement and damage.

Firefighters are still battling the blaze as night falls, with thousands of residents watching helplessly as their homes burn.