Tongi: One more fireman who sustained severe burn injuries in the explosion of a chemical warehouse in Tongi on Monday died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) this afternoon. The deceased was identified as firefighter Nurul Huda (40), son of Abdul Monsur of Gaforgaon of Mymensingh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Nurul Huda succumbed to his burn injuries around 3:40 pm at the NIBPS, as confirmed by Talha bin Zasim, media officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD). With Nurul’s death, two out of the four fire personnel injured in the incident have died.
The firemen suffered burn injuries in an explosion at a tin-shed chemical godown while attempting to extinguish a fire that erupted in the warehouse at Sahara Market in Tongi, Gazipur, around 3:29 pm on Monday, as reported by fire brigade sources. Seven firefighting engines managed to control the fire around 7:00 pm after about two hours of efforts.
NIBPS Resident Surgeon Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman reported that firefighters Shamim (42) and Nurul Huda (40) sustained nearly 100 percent burn injuries. Fire Officer Khondoker Jannatul Nayem (35) suffered 42 percent burn injuries, while firefighter Joy Hasan (24) incurred five percent burn injuries. “The condition of Fire Officer Khondoker Jannatul Nayem is still critical,” Dr. Rahman stated.
With the deaths of Shamim and Nurul, the total number of firefighters who have lost their lives while on duty has reached 50, FSCD sources revealed.