S Alam Group is working to limit the damage to the environment following the devastating fire that broke out in a sugar mill owned by the Chattogram-based conglomerate.
The water sprinkled by the fire service to extinguish the fire eventually made its way into the Karnaphuli River and fish became ill after consuming too much sugar-mixed water.
“No one was prepared for such an accident. About 30 trucks are dumping the melted raw sugar at our dumping grounds. We are trying our best to prevent raw sugar from entering the river. We are working to limit the damages,” S Alam Group Head of State Mostan Billah Adil told journalists.
“Even after this, some of the water sprinkled by the fire service rolled down into the river. We have no choice but to express our sorrow,” he added.
Visiting the spot on Wednesday (6 March), several trucks were seen removing molten sugar from the factory.
The fire in the northern part of the warehouse was seen still burning 48 hours after the fire.
The fire service said the wall of the warehouse in the western part of the mill may also collapse. As a result, even if the wall collapses, a sand dam is being set up to prevent the fire from spreading.
A team from Dhaka including Fire Service and Civil Defense Director Rezaul Karim has been on the spot since Tuesday (4 March).
They are monitoring the overall situation and giving instructions to the fire service personnel.
The fire service director said the fire at S Alam Group's sugar warehouse is under control.
“As there is a tin roof on top, water isn’t being very effective to douse the flames. But we are working as per plan,” he added.
A fire broke out in a sugar mill owned by S Alam Group in Chattogram at around 3:53pm on 4 March.
Since then, 15 units of fire service have worked in phases.
