Gazipur, Sept 3 (UNB) - Valuables of a steel factory were gutted in a fire and 22 workers injured in a fire incident and fire panic in Sreepur and Tongi upazilas on Friday.

Police and fire service said a fire started at SKB Steel Factory at Boiragichala in Sreepur upazila, that gutted its valuables at about 9:30am.

The cause of the blaze at the factory, which was closed on Friday, however, could not be known immediately.

On information, fire fighters from Gazipur and Bhaluka in Mymensingh rushed to the spot and doused the flame at 2pm after hectic efforts with the help of local people.

Two employees of the factory, Habib and Faruque, were injured while extinguishing the fire.

Local fire service estimated the financial losses caused by the fire at about Tk one crore.

In another incident, at least 20 workers of a garment factory, Well Text, at Tongi Bazar were injured in a fire panic.

Police said the fire panic spread among the workers as an electric transmitter behind the factory suddenly exploded with a big bang in the morning.

Hence, a large number of workers scrambled to come out of the factory at a time resulting in a stampede, which left at least 20 injured.

The injured were admitted to different local hospitals and clinics.

The factory was later declared closed for the day due to the incident.