Tongi blast: one fireman dies

A fireman, who sustained cent per cent burn injuries in the explosion of a chemical warehouse in Tongi, Gazipur on Monday, died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) on Tuesday afternoon, reports BSS.

The deceased, Shamim Ahmed (42), hailed from Netrokona. He is survived by his wife and three children.

He succumbed to his burn injuries at around 3:00 pm.

Shamim along with his three colleagues suffered burn injuries when an explosion occurred at a tin-shed chemical godown while they were dousing a flame that erupted in the warehouse at Sahara Market in Tongi at around 3:29 pm on Monday. Seven firefighting engines brought the fire under control at around 7:00 pm after about two hours of frantic efforts.

Firefighters Shamim (42) and Nurul Huda (40) suffered nearly cent percent burn injuries, while Fire Officer Khondoker Jannatul Nayem (35) sustained 42 per cent burn injuries, and firefighter Joy Hasan (24) received five per cent burn injuries.