Cook burnt as cylinder explodes on fishing boat in Noakhali's Hatiya

The victim is undergoing treatment in Dhaka for burns on 35 percent of his body

A man has been burnt in a gas cylinder explosion while preparing food on a fishing boat in Noakhali's island Upazila of Hatiya.

The incident took place around 8:30pm on Thursday on a boat named Master Majhi, docked at Chairman Ghat on the banks of the Meghna River, said Sub-Inspector Md Abdul Baten from the local police outpost.

The injured cook, 60-year-old Hema Majhi, is a native of Lakshmipur's Kamalnagar Upazila.

Police and witnesses say the Master Majhi, owned by Chairman Ghat fish trader Nizam Uddin, had returned from a fishing trip two days earlier. While the other crew members went home, Hema stayed alone on the vessel.

At the time of the incident, Hema was cooking on the stove. Suddenly, the gas cylinder exploded with a loud bang. In an instant, the wooden parts of the boat split apart. Locals subsequently rescued Hema and removed fishing nets and gear from the vessel.

Zahir Uddin, a ward boy at the emergency department of Noakhali General Hospital, said Hema was admitted around 10pm. After providing first aid, doctors advised transferring him to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. He was later taken to Dhaka.

Hospital records show that he had suffered burns across 35 percent of his body, including both arms and legs, chest, and back.

“At the time of the incident, Hema Majhi was cooking on the boat. As the cylinder exploded upward, there was no major damage. Other fishermen and boatmen were at home when the blast occurred," said SI Baten.

Although the explosion took place near the Chairman Ghat police camp, the matter will be handled by the River Police as it happened on the water, he added.