Chattogram salt factory blast death toll rises to 5

Another worker, Mahmudul Haque (40), who was burnt in the cylinder explosion at Confidence Salt Factory in Boalkhali, Chattogram, has died. The death toll from the accident has now risen to five.

He died on Thursday (July 23) morning at around 11:30am while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital.

The deceased, Mahmudul Haque, was the son of the late Khayer Ahmed from the Goronkhain area of Ward No 5 in Khusumpura Union of Patiya upazila. He was the fourth among three brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his two-year-old daughter. Family sources said his wife had lost her mental balance after suffering a brain stroke about two years ago.

Confirming the death, Dr Mohammad Shahabuddin Khalid, head of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at CMC Hospital, told Dhaka Post that Mahmudul Haque had suffered burns on 60 to 65 per cent of his body. He was admitted to the ICU in critical condition and died after about a week of treatment.

Earlier, on July 16, workers Didarul Alam (32) and Mohammad Alam (45) died in hospital. On July 19, Nur Nabi Hridoy (25) died at 3pm, and Ujjwal Dash (53) died later that night at 10:30pm.

It may be noted that 10 workers were burnt in the cylinder explosion at the salt factory in Boalkhali.