A devastating gas explosion ripped through a residential flat in Chattogram’s Halishahar early Monday, leaving nine people critically burned.
On of the victims, Rani Akter, 40, later died while being taken to Dhaka along with others for advanced treatment. The blast occurred at around 4:30am on Monday in a flat on the third floor of a six-storey building in the AC Mosque-adjacent area of H Block in Halishahar.
Fire officials said the explosion was triggered by gas that had accumulated inside the kitchen.
As the powerful blast engulfed the flat in flames, severely injuring the people inside, locals rushed them to the Burn Unit of Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
They were later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for advanced treatment, doctors said.
Liton Kumar Palit, assistant registrar of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at CMCH, said smoke had entered the airways of all the injured, causing severe lung damage. Given their critical condition, they were referred to Dhaka for specialised care.
Eyewitness recounts morning of panic
Building resident Jasim Uddin said he had woken up for sehri when he suddenly heard an explosion in the neighbouring flat.
“I came out and saw four or five people running around with burn injuries. One person’s clothes were still on fire. I rushed to rescue a child and poured water over him. I took two of them to hospital,” he said.
Jasim, who has lived in the building for five years, said the force of the explosion broke the front door of his flat and shattered window glass, which was hurled onto the street. “Broken items were scattered everywhere. It was a horrific scene,” he said.
The injured
The injured have been identified as Sakhawat Hossain, 46; Md Shipon, 30; Md Suman, 40; Md Shawon, 17; Md Anas, 7; Umme Aimon, 9; Ayesha Akter, 4; Pakhi Akter, 35.
Hospital sources said the airways of Sakhawat Hossain, and Pakhi Akter were completely burned. Md Shipon sustained 80 per cent burns, while Md Suman and Md Shawon suffered 45 per cent burns. The three children — Anas, Umme Aimon and Ayesha — sustained between 20 and 25 per cent burns.
Doctors said that burns covering 10 per cent of the body in children and 15 per cent in adults are generally considered critical. By that measure, all nine victims are in a life-threatening condition.
Deceased Rani Akter was the wife of Shakhawat Hossain, one of those critically burnt in the incident, said Md Maqbul Hossain, one of those who rescued the injured and took them to CMCH.
He said Rani Akter was being taken to her village home in Barura of Cumilla for burial.
Three families affected
Md Maqbul Hossain, identifying himself as a relative of the victims, said two brothers’ families lived in the flat. A third brother had recently returned from abroad for medical treatment and was staying there with his family. Members of all three families were injured in the explosion.
Third floor left in ruins
On-site observations showed that the doors of four flats on the third floor were broken. The furniture and walls of the affected flat were badly burned. Cooking utensils were scattered in front of the kitchen, and furniture in the adjacent flat was also badly damaged.
The explosion, which occurred as families were preparing for sehri in the quiet early hours, has left three households facing deep uncertainty. Doctors said that smoke inhalation and severe lung damage significantly increase the risk for burn patients in such cases.
Differing views on the cause
Deputy Assistant Director of Chattogram Fire Service Alamgir Hossain said there was no LPG cylinder in the flat and that gas was supplied through a line from Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company.
“Gas leaked from the stove and accumulated in the kitchen. The explosion occurred from that accumulated gas,” he said.
However, former resident Mansur Ali suggested that, in addition to gas, an electrical overvoltage might also have contributed to the explosion. He said previous fire incidents had occurred in the building and cautioned against attributing the cause solely to gas.
Halishahar Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Abu Hanif said an IPS battery was found at the scene and that reports of a gas leak were being heard. The exact cause would be confirmed following the fire service investigation, he added.
