The death toll from a fire reportedly caused by a gas cylinder explosion at a garment factory in Ashulia has risen to nine after a critically injured man died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday.
Nur Islam, 30, died at the hospital’s burn unit around noon, said Dr Harunur Rashid, resident surgeon of the unit.
Nur had suffered burns to 95 per cent of his body, including his respiratory tract, and had been undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit, the doctor said.
Nur’s nephew, Md Masud, said his uncle was from Bagerhat but lived in Bhola.
He worked as a gas transport truck driver and had gone to the factory with a gas-carrying vehicle shortly before the incident.
“He suffered burns all over his body in the blast,” Masud said.
The fire broke out around 7:30pm on Sunday on the premises of Pretty Composite Textile Limited in Jamgara, Ashulia, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence. Firefighters brought the blaze under control at around 8:03pm.
Eight people were killed and 20-25 others injured in the incident, according to the Fire Service.
Another victim, Nazrul Islam, 30, died at DMCH on the night of the incident. He used to sell raw materials on the road in front of the factory.
Meanwhile, Sujon Mia, 25, who was critically injured in the incident, was shifted by his relatives from DMCH to a private hospital in search of an ICU bed.
His father, Mukles Mia, 45, received primary treatment on the day of the incident.
Soon after the fire broke out, several victims were taken to a local mother-and-child hospital. Some of the injured were later transferred to DMCH for further treatment.
With Nur Islam’s death, the death toll from the incident has now reached nine.
