Fridge compressor explosion in Narayanganj leaves 9 injured

Nine people from two families were injured in a fridge compressor explosion at a semi-pucca house in Narayanganj's Siddhirganj. All the victims were admitted to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka in critical condition.

The accident took place early Saturday (August 23) in the Hirajil area under Siddhirganj Police Station. While it was initially believed to be a gas line explosion, investigations later showed that the fire was caused by a fridge compressor bursting.

Md. Miron Mia, Senior Station Officer of Adamjee Fire Service, said, “After inspecting the site, we found that the fire was caused by the fridge compressor explosion. There was no evidence of a gas leak in or around the house.”

The injured include day laborer Tanzil Islam (40), his wife Asma Begum (35), and their two children, Trisha Akter (17) and Arafat (15). The other affected family consists of day laborer Hasan (35), his wife Salma Begum (32), and their three children: one-month-old Imam Uddin, Jannat (4), and Muntaha (11).

Dr. Sultan Mahmud Shikdar, acting residential surgeon at the National Burn Institute, said, “The victims were brought to the hospital early in the morning. Among them, Hasan has burns over 44% of his body, Salma 48%, Asma 48%, Trisha 53%, Jannat 40%, Muntaha 37%, and one-month-old Imam 30%. Tanzil Islam was discharged after receiving initial treatment.”

Hasan’s younger brother Rokibul said, “My brother and brother-in-law worked as day laborers to support their families. They lived in a small semi-pucca house with their families. Suddenly, during the night, the explosion occurred and everything turned chaotic.”