Chattogram gas blast: Head of family dies, rasing toll to 5

Sakhawat Hossain, 49, had suffered 100 percent burns and severe airway injuries

The death toll from a gas explosion at a flat in Chattogram’s Halishahar has risen to five after the head of the family died from his injuries.

Sakhawat Hossain, 49, who suffered burns across 100 percent of body, died around 10:45am on Wednesday while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, according to Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the facility.

On Monday, the day of the explosion, Sakhawat’s wife, 40-year-old Nurjahan Akter Rani, died while being taken 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.

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 on Tuesday night.

With Sakhawat’s death, five members from the two brothers’ families have died in the blast. The remaining four victims are in critical condition, doctors said.

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

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

Those still receiving treatment are Sakhawat’s 10-year-old daughter Umme Aiman Snigdha; Samir’s two children, Ayesha, 4, and Farhan Ahmed Anas, 6, and Sakhawat’s brother Shipon Hossain, 31.

Doctors said Shipon suffered burns to 80 percent of his body, while Aiman suffered 38 percent burns, Anas 30 percent and Ayesha 45 percent.

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 brother had recently come to stay with his family for medical treatment.

The Fire Service suspects that gas had accumulated in the kitchen and ignited when the stove was lit, triggering the explosion and fire. Two investigation committees have been formed to determine the cause of the incident.