Staff Reporter :
A boiler explosion at a garment factory named Multifabs Limited at Kashimpur at Nayapara in Gazipur district on Monday evening killed at least nine people and injured over eighty others, fire officials said.
Mohammad Akteruzzaman, Assistant Director, Gazipur Fire Service, said the deadly explosion took place at about 7:30 pm on Monday during Magrib prayers.
He said they began the rescue operation from 8pm on Monday.
“We have already recovered eight bodies from the wreckage. We, in association with the local people and RMG workers are continuing the rescue operation. The death toll may rise,” he said.
“Casualties may rise as the injured were being treated at local hospitals after being rescued from the building that suffered partial damage in the explosion,” he said.
Mazed Munshi, an eyewitness, said with a big bang the boiler exploded inside the factory collapsing its roof partially.
“A thick smoke shrouded the adjacent area. It looked like a foggy winter evening. Nothing far away could be seen through the layers of smoke. Moreover, the impact of burning made it difficult to breath,” he said.
Talking to the locals on Monday night they said many workers with serious burn injuries have been sent to the hospitals.
“The first floor of the four-storey building has already collapsed due to the impact of the boiler explosion,” Mohammad Masum Billah, a residence of Gazipur city said.
A total of ten fire-fighting units rushed to the spot and they were trying to douse the fire till filing of this report on Monday night.
Additional police super of Gazipur (South) Russel Sheikh said they are now on rescue operation.
“Flames and smoke are billowing as fire-fighters are still dealing with the fire in the factory,” he said.
Earlier on September 10, 2016 at least 37 people, mostly workers, were killed and 74 injured in the incident in a boiler explosion at a factory in Tongi BSCIC industrial area of Gazipur.
