Mother clung to children in their final moments as fire ripped through

FE Team | Published: March 02, 2024 00:53:00

Poppy Rani Roy and her daughter Adrija and Turjo were burnt to death in the Bailey Road inferno

On the eve of the weekend, Poppy Rani Roy (30) decided to treat her children to a visit at the Ekushey Book Fair. On their way back, they stopped for a meal at a popular biriyani restaurant 'Kacchi Bhai' on Bailey Road, reports bdnews24.com.
Poppy could never have imagined that dinner would be their last together.
What was meant to be a pleasant family outing turned into a nightmare when a fierce fire ripped through the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage building.
As the flames roared, Poppy instinctively wrapped her arms around 12-year-old daughter Adrija and son six-year-old Turjo amid the suffocating smoke. But none of them survived.
The trio were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital after the fire broke out. Her brother Rinku Roy collected their bodies on Friday.
Bailey Road, once the centre of drama and theatre in Dhaka has now turned into a 'gastronomic hub' and bustles with people most of the time. Thursday, being the last working day, drew large crowds to the area.
Recounting the moment he learnt of the blaze, witness Sohel Akbar said he was heading to the restaurant around 9:45 pm and noted that Kacchi Bhai was especially crowded as it was offering a special 50 percent discount.