The death toll in the devastating fire that caused explosions at BM Container Depot in Shitolpur area of Sitakunda upazila in the district has climbed to 49, said Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Alauddin Talukder of the Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) police outpost. Earlier, assistant director of the fire service Farooq Siddiqui said 45 bodies were recovered from the spot. The local administration has been able to identify 21 bodies so far.
A fire service media cell press release also said that nine fire men died and 15 personnel were injured while trying to douse the flame. Two members of the fire service have still remained missing.
Over three hundred people, including police and fire service personnel were also injured in the incident, hospital sources said.
More than 300 injured people, of which many received burn injuries, are undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Chattogram, they added.
The actual number of injured people could not be verified independently.
A team of army personnel reached the depot to help bring the fire under control, he said.
ASI Talukder said 28 bodies were kept in the CMCH morgue.
The fire originated at the depot at about 9.35 p.m. on Saturday (Jun 4) night. Police and fire service personnel were continuing their efforts to extinguish the flames and rescue people and send them to hospitals.
BM Container Depot Ltd is a Netherlands-Bangladesh joint venture, according to the police and officials of the depot.
Faruk Hossain Sikdar, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, said that at least 20 units of the fire service were dispatched to the place of occurrence.
The fire service and civil defense personnel were unable to make headway despite multiple attempts were in place due to fire that is being fuelled by Hydrogen Peroxide, sources said.
High government officials including CMP commissioner and divisional commissioner visited the CMCH.
BM Container depot to give Tk 10 lakh to each deceased family
The BM Container Depot authorities have announced to give Tk 10 lakh to each family of the workers died in the devastating fire in Chattogram's Sitakunda. They also announced to pay Taka 6 lakh to each critically injured victim who lost body parts in the accident and Tk 4 lakh to other injured workers, said a statement issued by the depot authorities on Sunday (Jun 5).
Besides, the company has separately formed a five-member inquiry committee to probe the deadly fire incident, added the release.
The company said that they admitted the fire victims to different hospitals arranging 20 ambulances along with making arrangements of food for the victims and their family members at the hospitals.
It has also made arrangements for free medicine supplies for the victims from four pharmacies.
In addition to volunteers, about 500 people have been gathered by the company to donate blood for the injured. Moreover, the children of the deceased workers will be entitled to receive their salaries until they reach adulthood, the company declared.
The company further announced to provide jobs to the members of the victims' families.
The owner of BM Container Deport also expressed deep sorrow and sympathy over the devastating fire incident.
Govt allocates Tk 1 crore for Ctg fire victims
The government has allocated Tk one crore for the victims of the devastating fire that caused explosions at BM Container Depot in Shitalpur area under Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram on Saturday (Jun 4) night.
An official release of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said that, Tk one crore in cash and 1,000 packets of dry and other food items have been allotted as humanitarian assistance for the victims of the Sitakunda fire.
The allocation was made on Sunday by the ministry, added the release.
