Ashulia house fire: National burn institute forms medical team to oversee victims' treatment

Two of the 11 victims have died while four others are in critical condition

The National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery has formed a 22-strong medical board to coordinate the treatment of victims from the deadly house fire in Dhaka's Ashulia.

Dr Md Nasir Uddin, the institute’s acting director, was appointed as the head of the team, which includes doctors from various departments of the burn institute, on Sunday.

As many as 11 people, including three children, were burnt in the fire that broke out on Friday night in Zirabo. They were subsequently rushed to the burn institute, where two of them -- 32-year-old Shewly Akter and 32-year-old Sumon Mia -- died during treatment on Sunday.

Shewly suffered burns on 95 percent of her body and Sumon on 99 percent.

Among the nine survivors, four are in critical condition, according to Dr Shawon Bin Rahman from the institute's emergency department.

“Two are in the ICU, while two others are receiving treatment in the HDU. The medical board will meet today to decide the next steps for their care,” he said on Monday.

The other victims are Zahura Begum, 70, Md Monir Hossain, 45, Shurjo Banu, 50, Sohel Mia, 38, Sharmin Akter, 35, along with Shamim, 15, Mahadi, 7, Sowayed, 4, and Sumaiya, 3 -- all identified by single names.

Ashulia Police Station chief Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui had confirmed on Friday that the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction.