A devastating fire has once again destroyed at least 30 business establishments at Boalkhali Bazar in Dighinala upazila of Khagrachari on early Wednesday.

The fire broke out at Tripti Hotel at about 1:45am and spread soon to adjoining shops, said Md Jakaria, officer-in-charge of Dighinala Police Station.

Mohammad Zaker Hossain, deputy assistant director of Khagrachari Fire Service, said five firefighting units from Khagrachari, Longadu, and Dighinala rushed to the scene.

With the assistance of the army personnel from Dighinala Zone, police, and local residents, the fire was brought under control after an hour and a half at about 3:30am, he said.

Traders said clothing stores, hardware shops, grocery stores, restaurants and other shops were reduced to ashes and the extent of losses would be around Tk 5 crore.

This is the third major fire incident in the area within a year.

On March 7 this year, a fire caused by a short circuit destroyed over 150 shops at Larma Square, causing damages worth Tk 4 crore.

Earlier, on September 19 last year, a fire-allegedly set by miscreants amid ethnic clashes-burnt down the entire Larma Square market, leaving hundreds of families from both indigenous and Bengali communities in financial ruin.

Authorities, including the fire service and law enforcement agencies, have launched an investigation into the latest incident.