Four burned in fire at cylinder re-testing centre in Gazipur's Naojor, one in critical condition

Four people suffered burns in a fire at a cylinder re-testing centre in the Naojor area of Gazipur city. One of them is in critical condition, doctors said. All four were taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for treatment.

The fire broke out at about 8:30pm on Wednesday (November 4) at United Cylinder Re-Testing Centre-2, next to Riaz Filling Station in the Naojor area. Two Fire Service units brought the blaze under control.

The injured are Ahad (19), Abdullah (18), Ashraful (26) and Naim (25). According to Sultan Mahmud Sikdar, resident surgeon (emergency department) at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Ahad has burns over 55 percent of his body, Abdullah 20 percent, Ashraful 15 percent and Naim 4 percent.

Three of the burn victims have been admitted to the institute's High Dependency Medical Unit (MHDU); among them, Ahad's condition is critical. Naim, meanwhile, is being kept under observation in the emergency department. Treatment is under way for all of them.

Hiron Miah, senior officer of the Gazipur-Chowrasta Modern Fire Station, said the fire in a cylinder at the re-testing centre in Naojor was reported at 8:40pm. Two Fire Service units reached the scene at 8:44pm; the fire was brought under control at 8:50pm and fully extinguished at 9:30pm.

Hiron Miah added that the accident is initially believed to have been caused by gas leaking from a gas-filled cylinder. Although two injuries were initially reported, no one was found at the scene when firefighters arrived, he said.

Talha Bin Jasim of the Fire Service and Civil Defence media cell said four people were burned in the fire at United Cylinder Re-Testing Centre-2, beside Riaz Filling Station in the Naojor area, and that they are being treated at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.