At least 35 folks have been killed and over 450 injured in an enormous fireplace attributable to an explosion that swept by a non-public chemical container depot in southeastern Bangladesh, officers mentioned on June 5.
On June 4 night time, the fireplace broke out at BM Container Depot within the Kadamrasul space in Sitakunda Upazila in Chittagong.
“So far 35 dead bodies reached the morgue here,” a police officer stationed on the state-run Chattagram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) informed newsmen.
“Over 450 people have been injured in this incident of which, at least 350 are at CMCH,” Istakul Islam, chief of the Health & Service Department at Red Crescent Youth Chittagong was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.
“The death toll could be more at other hospitals,” Mr. Islam mentioned.
Meanwhile, Chattogram Divisional Commissioner (DC) Ashraf Uddin additional mentioned that households of the deceased are being given $560 (Taka 50,000) by the DC workplace. Meanwhile, $224 (Taka 20,000) is being given to the households of the injured, the Daily Star reported.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mourned the dying of individuals and ordered the mobilisation of all services for the salvage marketing campaign. Officials shaped a high-powered investigation committee demanding it to submit a report within the subsequent three days.
CMCH Police Outpost Sub-Inspector (SI) Nurul Alam mentioned a hearth broke out on the container depot round 9 p.m. on June 4.
As Fire Service models labored to place it out, there was an explosion after which the fireplace unfold.
Mr. Nurul added that originally it was being suspected that the container depot caught fireplace resulting from chemical compounds, the report added.
Around 11:45 p.m., there was an enormous explosion and the fireplace unfold from one container to a different because of the presence of chemical compounds in one of many containers.
“The depot was largely empty, the firefighters, policemen and other rescuers rushed to the scene after the fire initially broke out and the explosion of containers after containers filled with chemicals killed them,” a witness informed PTI over the cellphone.
The explosion shook the neighbourhood and shattered glasses of home windows of close by homes, the report added.
Media stories, together with TV footage, confirmed the blast shattered the home windows of a number of buildings close by and was felt from areas so far as 4 km away, creating panic.
Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defence Assistant Director Md. Faruk Hossain Sikdar mentioned, “Around 19 firefighting units are working to douse the blaze and six ambulances are also available on the spot.” “Several types of chemicals like hydrogen peroxide were stored in containers at the depot and the chemicals have visibly sparked the fire,” Fire Service Chief Brigadier General Mohammad Mainuddin informed newsmen on the scene within the Sitakunda space on the outskirts of the port metropolis.
The state-run Chattagram Medical College Hospital accommodated many of the fireplace wounded sufferers whereas a number of others together with scores of firefighters have been being handled at a navy hospital and a few personal services.
In a press release, Mujibur Rahman, Director of the BM Container Depot, mentioned it was not clear what precipitated the fireplace. “But I think the fire started from the container.”
“Arrangements are being made to ensure that the injured get the best treatment. We will bear the entire cost of the treatment. Those who were injured in the accident will be given the maximum compensation,” Mr. Rahman was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
“In addition, we will take responsibility for all the families of all the victims,” he added.
BM Container Depot is about up as an inland container depot which has been working since May 2011. The personal container depot was constructed on 21 acres of land within the Sitakunda space of Chattagram adjoining to the Bay of Bengal coastlines.
Source: www.thehindu.com