At least 12 people were injured after a gas explosion tore through the canteen of JERA Meghnaghat Power Plant Limited in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj on Wednesday afternoon, according to officials.
The injured were taken immediately to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for treatment. Hospital officials said the explosion took place around 1:00pm while employees were standing in a queue for lunch inside the canteen.
Witnesses said the blast originated in the kitchen area and was followed by a fire. The incident caused panic among workers at the power plant facility.
The injured have been identified as Md Monir Hossain, 45, Md Ramizul, 15, Badrul Hyder, 50, Tuhin Sheikh, 30, Osman Goni, 30, Saiful Islam, 30, Shuprabhat Gosh, 42, Al Amin, 30, Nazmul Alom Khan, 40, Shankar, 35, Kawsar, 30, and Md Amir, 25.
Six of the victims are currently under observation with burn injuries ranging from three to five per cent. The remaining six were admitted to the institute with more serious injuries: Shuprabhat Gosh with 12 per cent burns; Al Amin with 22 per cent, Nazmul Alom Khan with 13 per cent, Shankar with 46 per cent, Kawsar with 59 per cent, and Md Amir with 80 per cent burns.
Dr Shawon bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, confirmed the admissions and said the Health and Family Welfare Minister is scheduled to visit the injured later on Wednesday.
An official said preliminary findings suggest gas may have accumulated in the kitchen after a stove was left on following cooking activities. “When a matchstick was lit later, the accumulated gas likely triggered the explosion and subsequent fire,” the official said.
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