Another dies in Siddhirganj explosion; toll rises to 3

The death toll from the tragic explosion in Siddhirganj continues to climb. Following the deaths of a one-month-old infant and his grandmother, the child’s father, Hasan Gazi (40), has succumbed to his injuries, bringing the total fatalities to three.

Dr. Sultan Mahmud Shikdar, Acting Resident Surgeon at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, confirmed to the media on Thursday that Hasan died early this morning around 4:30 AM. “He had sustained burns over 44 percent of his body,” said Dr. Shikdar.

The infant, Imam Uddin, passed away early last Sunday, while Hasan’s mother-in-law, Tahera Akter (55), died Monday evening. Hasan’s four-year-old daughter Jannat, his wife Salma (35), and sister-in-law Asma (32) are currently being treated in the ICU with burns covering nearly 40 percent of their bodies. Their condition remains critical.

The incident occurred around 3:30 AM on August 22 in a rented room of a tin-shed house owned by Zakir Khandakar, located near Roni City in Pineadi CI Khola area of Siddhirganj. Nine people were asleep when a sudden explosion sparked a fire that spread rapidly.

Initial investigations by the Fire Service suggest the blast originated from a refrigerator compressor explosion. However, locals claim the primary cause was a gas leak from a Titas Gas pipeline running beneath the house. They reported a strong gas smell in the area for days prior and said previous minor fires had been caused by this leak.

Locals have raised doubts about the refrigerator compressor theory, noting that the fridge and compressor remain intact. “If the compressor exploded, how is the fridge still undamaged?” questioned a resident.

Titas Gas officials deny any gas leakage was detected during inspections. The Fire Service also did not find evidence supporting a gas explosion but is considering forming a committee for further investigation.