Child Snigdha dies after a month of Chattogram gas blast

Snigdha, one of the three children undergoing treatment following burn injuries in a gas explosion at a flat in Chattogram’s Halishahar, has died.

The 10-year-old finally succumbed to her injuries after undergoing treatment for about a month. Following her death, the immediate family of her father Sakhawat Hossain have all died.

Snigdha passed away at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at 2am on Wednesday, said Shawon Bin Rahman, assistant professor at the institute.

With burns on 30 percent of her body, Snigdha died due to “multiple organ failure” while undergoing treatment, the physician said.

The death toll from the incident has now risen to seven.

The two children of Sakhawat’s brother Samir -- Ayesha, 4, and Farhan Ahmed Anas, 6 -- remain in critical condition and are receiving treatment.

Anas suffered burns to 30 percent of his body and Ayesha 45 percent.

On Feb 23, Sakhawat’s wife, 40-year-old Nurjahan Akter Rani, died while being transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment along with other injured family members.

The following morning, their 16-year-old son Shaon died at the same hospital at 7am.

Later that day, Sakhawat’s younger brother, 40-year-old Samir Ahmed, also succumbed to his injuries. Samir’s wife, 30-year-old Ashura Akter Pakhi, died after a few hours.

Sakhawat, who suffered burns across 100 percent of body, died on Feb 25 while undergoing treatment in the same hospital.

Finally, on Feb 28, another of Sakhawat’s brothers - Shipon Hossain – died.

This left three children from the families still undergoing treatment. A month since the incident, one of them has now died.

The explosion occurred around 4:30am on Feb 23, in a third-floor flat of the six-storey “Halima Manzil” building in Halishahar’s H Block. Neighbours said the loud blast was followed by a fire, and the victims emerged from the flat with flames on their bodies.

Nine members of the family, including three children, were burnt while having Sehri before dawn.

The victims were initially taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors described their condition as critical.

Sakhawat, a garage owner, had rented the flat about a year and a half ago. He lived there with his wife, two children and an employee from his garage. His younger brothers had recently come to stay with his family for medical treatment.