In Bangladesh, at least 124 workers have been killed in a fire, which engulfed a garments factory overnight at suburban Ashulia in Savar, 30 kilometers away from Dhaka.

Confirming the toll, a local Fire service official on the spot told All India Radio’s Dhaka Correspondent that the process of recovering more bodies and handing them over to the relatives is on. He added that some more people are reported to have died as they jumped off the eight storey building after the fire broke out.

According to local eye witnesses, the fire broke out on Saturday night and quickly engulfed the ground and first floors of the six-floors building causing the worst fire tragedy in recent years.

More than ten units of the Fire Brigade were pressed into service to put off the fire. It took nearly five hours to douse the fire.

Bangladesh President Zillur Rehman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia have expressed profound shock at the loss of lives.

The Prime Minister has also announced a financial assistance of one lakh taka each for the next of kin of the victims. She also asked the concerned authorities to provide proper treatment to the injured.

In another tragedy in Bangladesh, twelve people died as an under construction flyover in the port city of Chittagong collapsed on Saturday night.

Three girders of the under-construction flyover in Bahaddarhat area of the city collapsed leaving an unspecified number of people trapped under the debris.

According to local reports eight people died on the spot while four more succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.