Boiler explosion kills two in Narayanganj, 18 injured

Two people have died and at least 18 others were injured in a boiler explosion at a rice mill in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon.

Azizul Islam and ‘Mahbub’ died in the boiler blast at Gausia Auto Rice Mill at Govindapur village under Shambhupura union on Wednesday afternoon, Sonargaon OC Manjur Kader said.

Quoting witnesses and mill workers, he said impact of the blast was so strong that a part of the boiler was flung up to adjoining Brahmaputra River where it hit a boat carrying paddy.

The boatman Islam died on the spot while Mahbub died at the DMCH.

Among the injured, ‘Mannan’, 40, ‘Rahim’, 30, ‘Khokon’, 30, and ‘Sohel, 22, were undergoing treatment at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

Hospital police outpost’s SI Mozammel Haque said Khokon had suffered 45 percent burns while the others 10 to 25 percent.

‘Rakib’, 22, ‘Jewel’, 30, and ‘Champa’, 30, went to another hospital after taking first aid, he said.

Mill owner Mostafa Mia fled following the blast.