March 29, 2024, 3:24 am


FT Online

Published:
2019-02-22 13:44:26 BdST

Pathetic scene at DMCH as Chawakbazar fire claims more lives


It was a heartbroken scenario when hundreds of people of fire victims’ families were gathering at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) this morning to know the fates of their nearest and dearest ones, who were feared to be worst victims of the devastating city fire.

At least 67 people were killed and hundred others injured in the deadly fire broke out at a chemical warehouse-prone Chawakbazar area in Old Dhaka last night.

“My husband was on the way to home. At that time a big fire ball felt on him and many parts of his body were burnt instantly,” said Hazera Begum, the wife of critically injured 50-year-old Anwar, who is a rickshaw puller of city’s Kamrangirchar area.

She added: “Anwar, who also a father of four children, made a phone call immediately to his only daughter after the incident and saying he is no more”.

Later, locals rescued him from the fire and sent to the burn unit of the DMCH, Hazara said.

Lucky Begum, sister-in-law of a 45-year-old victim Selim who is a worker of a Miror factory at Chawkbazar, said her brother-in-law fall a victim of the fire while coming to home at around 10:30 pm last night.

His left leg has fractured and back, face and other parts of the body have been critically burnt, Lucky said, adding that Selim was brought to the hospital by 11 pm.

“Mahmud is now undergoing treatment at the DMCH’s burn unit with 13 percent burn injury. When he was returning home at Hazi Bhallu road with some medicines, he was caught in fire after reaching near a mosque at Churihatta area,” said Motaleb, maternal uncle of the victim.

Meanwhile, the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of the DMCH has published a list of nine critically injured patients this morning.

The critically injured patients are — Anwar, 55, admitted with 28 percent burn and respiratory injuries, Mahmud, 52, with 13 percent burn, Selim, 44, with 14 percent burn, Helal, 18, with 16 percent burn, Rezaul, 21, with 51 percent burn, Zakir, 35, with 35 percent burn, Mozaffor, 32, with 30 percent burn, Shohag, 25, with 60 percent burn and Salahuddin, 45 admitted with 10 percent burn injuries.

Nine critically injured are now undergoing treatment, but they are not out of danger, said Dr Samanta Lal Sen, Plastic Surgeon and Coordinator of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery of the hospital.

Earlier, a total of 18 fire victims were rushed to the DMCH and nine of them were released after giving them first aid, he added.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan visited the DMCH’s burn unit this morning and inquired about the condition of the fire victims.

“The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken all the responsibilities of the fire victims’ families and will provide financial assistance to them,” Quader told reporters at DMCH.

Replying to a query on removing the chemical factories from the Old Dhaka, Home Minister Asaduzzaman said, “We had taken steps and repeatedly urged the factory owners to relocate their warehouses from the residential areas as soon as possible after the deadly fire took place in the Nimtoli area in 2010”.

But, he said, they did not pay heed to the government instructions.

But now the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor will take the responsibilities to relocate the chemical warehouses from the old part of Dhaka, he said, adding, “If the DSCC Mayor requests us, we will take steps in this regard”.

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