People's lives are coming to a standstill owing to the drop in mercury levels during the mild to moderate cold wave that is currently sweeping over the country, with its effect on the northern region being significantly greater than the rest.
During the winter every year, the number of accidental fires significantly increases across the country as many people resort to burners and stoves as sources of heat in addition to forming makeshift campfires.
With winter in full swing, helpless poor families are having to burn straw to save themselves from the cold due to the lack of winter clothes, leading to the rise in accidental fire incidents in the northern region of Rangpur.
A number of women and children with severe burn injuries are currently undergoing treatment at the burn unit of Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH).
One such woman, who suffered burn injuries while trying to stay warm by igniting a makeshift campfire, has died at the burn unit of RMCH.
The deceased Lima, wife of Jahangir Hossain, from Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur, succumbed to her injuries Tuesday morning.
According to her family at the hospital, Lima's clothes accidentally caught fire on Sunday morning while she was trying to ward off the severe cold.
“She was immediately admitted to the burn unit of RMCH with severe burns. Unfortunately, she died at 10:30 am on Tuesday while undergoing treatment,” Dr MA Hamid Palash, chief assistant professor of the burn unit, said.
“Lima sustained 60% burn injuries on her body when her clothes accidentally caught fire while she was trying to stay warm by igniting a makeshift campfire,” he added.
Dr MA Palash also said currently 15 more similar patients, who suffered burn injuries while trying to stay warm by a campfire, are undergoing treatment in the burn unit of the hospital.
According to media reports, last year 24 people died while undergoing treatment at the RMCH after sustaining severe burn injuries from accidental fire incidents in the region.
Victim’s mother Golapli Begum said Lima had given birth just two weeks ago and she was still in recovery. “Unable to stand the severe cold, the poor girl ignited a makeshift campfire to stay warm. However, her dress inadvertently caught fire, quickly engulfing her whole body.
“Lima’s husband, Jahangir went home to get the money needed to pay the hospital bills before we can collect her body.”
As there was a delay in collecting Lima’s body, the district administration had allocated necessary funds to pay hospital bills and her burial expenses but no action was taken by its members.
In this regard, Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Asib Ahsan was called several times on his official mobile phone but he did not receive the call.