12 burnt in gas tanker blast at Ctg shipbreaking yard

CHATTOGRAM, Sept 07: At least 12 workers sustained critical burn injuries following a gas tank explosion at the green ship-breaking yard of SN Corporation in Sitakunda upazila of  Chattogram on Saturday morning.
The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The injured were identified as Mohammad Ahmad Ullah, Mohammad Al Amin, Mohammad Barkat, Mohammad Habil Ahmed, Mohammad Niamul Hoque, Mohammad Anwar Hossein, Mohammad Abul Kashem, Mohammad Jahangir, Mohammad Khairul, Mohammad Sagar, Mohammad Rafique, and Mohammad Saiful.
Officer in Charge (OC) of Sitakunda police station Kamal Uddin said, "The blast took place in the pump room of the factory named SN Corporation at Sonaichhari area's shipyard during the dismantling of an old vessel around 11:30am on Saturday."
Confirming the incident, Superintendent of Industrial Police, Chattogram, Mohammad Solaiman, said, "At least 12 workers sustained burn injuries when a gas tank exploded at SN Corporation's ship-breaking yard around 11:30 am. Upon receiving information, a team of industrial police rushed to the spot and it is looking into the matter."
ASI Alauddin Talukder, in-charge of the CMCH outpost of district police, said that of the 12 brought to hospital, nine were in a critical condition. Among the injured, Jahangir suffered 70 per cent burn of his body, Ahmad Ullah 90 per cent, Kashem 35 per cent, Sagar 25 per cent, Al Amin and Moinul 80 per cent, Habib 40 per cent, Barkat 50 per cent, Anwar 25 per cent, and Rafique 10 per cent, the physicians of burn unit said.
Police and Fire Service personnel could not determine the cause of the explosion immediately.
Manager of SN Corporation Omar Faruk said, "We are a green ship breaking yard. We follow the rules of safety for workers. But, the accident was unfortunate one. We will provide treatment to the injured workers."
Shipbreaking Yard Workers Trade Union Forum's Convener Tapan Dutta, Joint Convener Muhammad Shafar Ali and AMM Nazim Uddin and Shipwrecked Workers Safety Committee Convener Mahir Uddin Mahmud, Joint Convener Muhabub Alam, Didarul Alam Chowdhury, Nurul Absar and Member Secretary Md Ali in a joint statement expressed their concern over the accident.
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