Chattogram Bureau :
All three Bangladeshi tourists died in the Indian Kashmir fire.
However, it is not possible to identify which of the three bodies were burned due to the fire. The local administration of India has asked the family members to go to India to identify them through DNA testing. Last Saturday (November 11), several houseboats were caught fire in Dal Lake, a famous tourist centre of Srinagar in Indian Kashmir.
The deceased were Anindya Kaushal, executive engineer of Rangamati Public Works Division, Chattogram Sub Divisional Public Works Engineer Emon Das Gupta and contractor Mainuddin.
Mainuddin and Emon’s house is in Raozan Upazila, and Anindya Kaushal’s house is in Mirsarai Upazila of Chattogram district. Anindya joined government service through 30th BCS and Eamon 33rd BCS. All three of them went to India for treatment. From there, they met with a fire accident while travelling in Kashmir.
According to the Indian media, the fire started near ghat Number 9 of Dal Lake around 5:30am on Saturday (November 11). The fire first broke out in one houseboat and later spread to four other houseboats anchored alongside. Mainuddin’s cousin Nazim Uddin Chowdhury told media, “On November 3, all three of them went to India for treatment. From there visit Kashmir. Among them, I learned from Indian media sources that three people died in the accident on Saturday.”
He said, “The local administration of India has asked a blood relative to go to identify the identity. We are processing for the visa. Deceased Mainuddin has a son and a daughter. His wife is a school teacher. Mainuddin’s elder daughter is in ninth grade and son is in third grade.
Chattogram Public Works Department Executive Engineer Rahul Guh said, “I still can’t believe it. In the beginning we get to know the incident from the news of Indian newspapers. Later the authorities there confirmed the identity. We have lost a family member.”
Deputy Assistant Engineer of Rangamati Public Works Office Joy Barua said, “Anindya Kaushal Sir is supposed to go to Ajmer Sharif. He also told that he was going to Kashmir after work from there. …. I do not understand anything.” According to the international news agency Reuters, three Bangladeshi tourists were burnt to death in one of the five houseboats that were burnt. Seven people were injured.