Chattogram: Two more burn victims from a gas explosion at a house in Halishahar in the city have died, raising the death toll to five. The condition of the remaining four injured victims is also critical.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md Sakhawat Hossain, 49, and Ashura Akter Pakhi, 30, died on Tuesday night while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, as confirmed by Assistant Professor Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, a resident physician at the institute.
Earlier, Samir Ahmed Sumon, 40, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday afternoon, while Nurjahan Akter Rani, 40, and her son Shawon, 16, died on Monday while receiving treatment. The explosion took place on Monday on the third floor of Halima Manzil, a six-storey building near AC Mosque in H Block of Halishahar, leaving nine people critically injured.
The victims included Md Sakhawat Hossain, his wife Nurjahan Akter Rani, son Shawon, daughter Umme Ayman Snigdha, Sakhawat’s younger brother Samir Ahmed Sumon, his wife Ashura Akter Pakhi, daughter Ayesha, son Farhan Ahmed Anas, and another younger brother of Sakhawat, Shipon Hossain.
Following the accident, the injured were initially taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors at the burn unit described their conditions as critical. Subsequently, all of them were transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Investigation committees have been established by the Fire Service and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company to identify the cause of the incident. Sakhawat’s cousin Md Milon confirmed the deaths of five family members, stating that the bodies were taken to their village home in Bagmara village under Barura upazila of Cumilla for burial.