Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- More than 50 apparel workers, mostly women, were wounded in a stampede triggered by a fire scare at a garment factory in Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, Saturday morning.
The incident occurred around 8:30am when the workers of Envoy Group tried to escape to safety as a fire alarm rang moments after the workers of the apparel factory joined their work in Jamgarah area of Ashulia industrial belt, police said.
As soon as they heard the fire alarm ringing, the panic-stricken workers from different floors started to get out of the building and many of them tumbled in the rush to save life, triggering a stampede.
The situation worsened as a railing of a staircase collapsed, injuring some fifty workers. The injured were admitted to several hospitals and clinics.
The fire alarm rang as someone mistakenly set off the alarm, police added.
BBN/SSR/AD-02Feb13-12:30 pm (BST)
