Identities of 10 Victims Killed in Ukhiya Resort Fire Confirmed

The identities of all 10 people killed in a devastating fire at Tup Tup Resort in the Patuartek area near Inani Beach in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, have been confirmed. Women and children were among the victims, including six members of the same family. Six others were injured.

The fire broke out at around 7am on Saturday, October 17, at the three-storey resort, built with brick and wood, beside the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive. Many tourists were asleep when the fire started and became trapped inside their rooms. Almost the entire structure was gutted.

According to a list published by media outlets, the deceased were identified as Israt Jahan Maliha, 30; Melita Mehejabin Alvi, 23, a student at East West University; Laila Jahan Nabila, 27, of Jagannath University; Nafista Mim, 27; Faria Kabir, 33; her five-year-old nephew Faizan Ahmed; Nasrin Akter Mukta, 29, a teacher at Swapna Bilash School in Savar, Dhaka; Dhaka University student Md Nafis Tehami; Jihad Howlader; and Tarikul Islam.

The six injured people were taken to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital. They were identified as Mugda Medical College Hospital physician Shihab Uddin Sadi, 31; his wife Nafiza Newaz Khan, 29; Mannan, 34; Meherunnesa, 30; Masud, 30; and Samida, 32.

Syed Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director of the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service station, confirmed the information about the casualties.

Witnesses said a loud bang was heard from the resort’s kitchen area before the fire spread rapidly throughout the building. Firefighters later launched a rescue operation. Several people who managed to jump out of the building to escape the flames survived.

After visiting the scene, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan said a gas cylinder explosion was initially suspected to have caused the fire. However, an investigation committee headed by the Additional District Magistrate has been formed to determine the actual cause. The findings will be known after the committee submits its report.

Police said Tup Tup Resort had nine rooms. Tourists staying in three rooms checked out on Friday night, while 16 people remained in the other six rooms. Five or six of them were reportedly outside the resort on various errands on Saturday morning.

Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman also said a gas cylinder explosion was suspected to have triggered the fire.