Woman dies on way to Dhaka after suffering burns in Chattogram blast

A woman who suffered burns in a gas explosion at a Chattogram Halishahar flat has died on the way to Dhaka.

The victim, 40-year-old Nurjahan Akter Rani, had suffered 100 percent burns, doctors said.

On Monday evening, nine burn victims were transferred from Chattogram Medical College Hospital to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka.

“Rani died before reaching here,” said the institute’s Assistant Professor Shawon Bin Rahman.

The blast occurred early Monday morning on the second floor of a six-storey building, producing a deafening sound as flames erupted.

Neighbours said residents ran out of the apartment, many still on fire.

The victims, including three children from the same family, were having sehri when the incident occurred.

The other victims were identified as Sakhawat Hossain, 46, alongside Ayesha, 4, Anas, 7, Aiman, 10, Shawon, 17, Shipon, 32, Sumon, 40, and Pakhi, 35 -- the rest identified with single names.

Doctors at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital said all were in critical condition.

Rani, Pakhi, and Sakhawat suffered 100 percent burns, Shipon 80 percent, Sumon and Shawon 45 percent, Aiman and Anas 25 percent, and Ayesha 20 percent.

They were flown to Dhaka for specialised care on Monday afternoon.

Garage owner Sakhawat, who had rented the flat for 18 months, lived there with his wife, two children, and an employee.

His younger brother recently moved in with his family for medical reasons.

Alamgir Hossain, deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence (Zone-1), told bdnews24.com: “It appears gas had accumulated in the kitchen. The explosion occurred when lighting the stove, igniting a fire.”

The blast shattered doors and windows on the second to fifth floors, the Fire Service reported.