All four people injured in a gas compressor line explosion in Kanchpur, Sonargaon, Narayanganj, have died. The latest victim, Roni Mia, caretaker of the building where the incident occurred, died on Friday morning, 16 October, bringing the death toll from the accident to four.
The victims died while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. Sultan Mahmud Sikder, a resident surgeon at the institute, confirmed Roni Mia’s death on Friday morning.
Before Roni’s death, Riaz, the brother-in-law of the house owner, died at around 2am on Thursday, 15 October. The following morning, the owner of the house, Sharif Hossain, 34, and his wife, Rozina Akter, 30, also died from their injuries.
According to Dr Sultan Mahmud Sikder, around 60 per cent of Rozina’s body had been burnt in the explosion, while Sharif and Riaz had sustained burns covering approximately 40 per cent of their bodies. All three were admitted to hospital in critical condition. Despite receiving treatment in the ICU, none of the four victims survived.
The explosion occurred at around 1.30am on 10 October at Islam Tower, a six-storey building owned by Shah Alam Mia in Sonapur Uttarpara village in Kanchpur, under Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj. The blast took place in a room on the building’s second floor, involving a compressor line used to increase gas pressure.
Sharif, his wife Rozina, his brother-in-law Riaz and the building’s caretaker, Roni Mia, were all injured in the incident. They were subsequently rescued and taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment.
Severe burns can lead to life-threatening complications, including infections and respiratory problems, particularly when a large proportion of the body is affected. Prompt rescue and specialised medical care are therefore crucial in such cases.
However, all four victims eventually succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment.
The available report did not provide a detailed explanation of what caused the explosion. The findings of any investigation into the incident will be important in establishing the precise cause and determining whether any safety failures contributed to the tragedy.
The incident also highlights the importance of regular inspection and maintenance of gas pipelines and pressure-boosting equipment, particularly in residential buildings, to reduce the risk of similar accidents.
