A teenager has become the second fatality in the aftermath of a gas explosion at a residential building in Chittagong’s Halishahar area. Sixteen-year-old Shawon succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday morning at the Dhaka National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, where he had been transferred for advanced treatment.
Shawon was admitted on Monday with burns covering 50 per cent of his body, alongside severe damage to his respiratory tract, according to Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, the institute’s resident surgeon. “Despite intensive care, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away at 7 a.m.,” Dr Rahman confirmed.
This tragic development follows the earlier death of 40-year-old Nur Jahan Akter Rani. She suffered burns over her entire body in the same incident and died on Monday afternoon in Comilla while being transported to Dhaka.
The explosion occurred in the early hours of Monday at the third-floor kitchen of Halima Manzil, a six-storey building in the AC Masjid area of Halishahar’s H Block. A total of nine people sustained varying degrees of burns in the incident.
Currently, four family members remain hospitalised, receiving treatment for their injuries. Medical authorities continue to monitor their conditions closely.
Details of the Injured
| Name | Age | Extent of Burns | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakhawat Hossain | 46 | 100% | Critical condition |
| Shipon | 30 | 80% | Under intensive care |
| Suman | 40 | 45% | Stable condition |
| Anas | 7 | 20–25% | Recovering |
| Aiman | 9 | 20–25% | Recovering |
| Ayesha Akter | 4 | 20–25% | Recovering |
| Pakhi Akter | 35 | 100% | Critical condition |
| Shawon | 16 | 50% | Deceased |
| Nur Jahan Akter Rani | 40 | 100% | Deceased |
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, although preliminary reports suggest a gas leak in the kitchen may have triggered the blast. Residents in the area have expressed shock and concern, citing safety lapses in older residential buildings.
Emergency services responded swiftly, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals before transferring the most critical cases to specialised burn care facilities in Dhaka. Doctors have emphasised the importance of rapid medical intervention in burn cases, noting that injuries affecting the respiratory tract significantly increase mortality risk.
As the families of the victims grapple with the tragedy, local authorities have urged residents to exercise caution with domestic gas installations and to report any suspected leaks immediately.