At least 13 people have been killed and over 50 others injured in a boiler explosion in a Gazipur factory, and the survivors blame lack of safety measures for the accident.
The explosion took place in the four-storey apparel factory of Multifabs Ltd early on Tuesday. The victims include all the boiler operators of the factory, said Assistant Director Akhtaruzzaman of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Gazipur.
Gazipur firefighters suspended their rescue operation in the factory last night as there were no more claims of missing persons.
Nine of the victims were identified as of last night. They are: Assistant Engineer Mujibur Rahman, 50, Fireman Amin Hossain, 40, Boiler Operator Mahbubur Rahman, 25, Boiler In-Charge Abdus Salam, 32, and workers Biplob Chandra Shil, 36, Gias Uddin Soial, 30, Ershad, Monsur and Solaiman.
Gazipur district administration has handed six bodies over to their families so far and given each family Tk20,000 to cover funeral costs.
The injured survivors are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Gazipur as well as in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
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Shariful Islam, a cleaner and fireman in the factory who sustained injuries in his head and left hand, said: “Before the explosion, the safety bulb gave a signal and we heard some strange noise coming from the boiler. As we ran out, the authorities and the boiler operator said it was nothing. Shortly after that, there was a blast. Next thing I know, I was in a hospital.”
The district administration promptly formed an eight-member probe committee led by Gazipur Executive Magistrate Rehanul Islam.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, the committee members said they primarily found that the exploded boiler had expired on June 24 and had not been replaced.
“However, we are not yet sure whether the explosion happened due to the boiler’s expiration,” one of the members added.
Gazipur Fire Service and Civil Defence has formed another three-member committee to investigate the incident.
When contacted Multifabs Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Mahiuddin Faruqui said: “We will definitely compensate and provide jobs for the family members of those who died or were injured.”
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