At least five people were injured and 20 shops gutted in a massive fire at Mirpui Cooperative Market in the city yesterday.

Sources said the fire originated from the first floor of the five-storey building when welding works were going on there

engulfed the entire floor.

Several firefighting units came to the spot and managed to douse the blaze around 12:00 noon.

President of the Cooperative Market Traders' Association Manik Miah said firefighters took 35 minutes to arrive on the spot. He claimed that the extent of loss was more than Tk one crore.

It was alleged that the fire originated from Rajib Foam Corner in the market.

SM Enamul Haque, owner of Rajib Foam Corner, said the market authorities were having welding works done in front of his shop. Fire from the welding fell on the foam and spread quickly.

Workers of a garment factory located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the market and others jumped off the 1st and 3rd floors and got injured.

One injured garment worker identified as Momtaz Begum, 28, was admitted into Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

A fire brigade official said they could not reach the spot quickly due to traffic jam.