Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital Resident Medical Officer Dr Amir Hossain said those with critical injuries were given first aid and sent to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal city.
Of the 72 injured, some 66 with serious burns have been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Barisal. The others are being treated at Jhalokathi Sadar Hospital.
"Of the 66 with up to 50% burns, 18 are women," said Dr Moniruzzaman, assistant director at SBMCH. "Three women and four men with life-threatening burns have been referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital as we've no dedicated burn unit."
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has formed a six-member committee to investigate the launch fire. Md Saiful Islam, additional director of the port and transportation department, will head it.
The Ministry of Shipping has also formed a seven-strong probe body to look into the incident, with ministry Joint Secretary Tofael Islam as its convener. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three business days.
Government official Hossain Al Mujahid was among the hundreds of people on board the launch, which caught fire mid-river in Jhalakathi early on Friday.
Mujahid, the administration chief (UNO) of Barguna’s Patharghata upazila, was travelling with his wife on “MV Obhijan 10.”
In a desperate bid to save their lives, Mujahid and his wife Ummul Wara jumped into the river from the third-floor of the launch to escape the flames which erupted around 3am. The UNO managed to escape any injuries, but his wife's leg was fractured.
“I had some official work in Dhaka and boarded the 6pm launch from Sadar Ghat. We were in one of the cabins on the third floor. Around 3am, we woke up after hearing people screaming,” he told an online newspaper.
Battling the thick smoke, the public servant went to the front end of the vessel to find more than a hundred people there.
Also read - Jhalakathi launch fire death toll rises to 40
“The launch was in mid-river and several people were jumping in the river and so did we. I managed to land on the water but my wife hit on the railing of the second floor and fractured her leg,” he said.
Dhaka TribuneAccording to the government official, majority of the casualties were among the elderly and children. “I noticed a lot of women jumping off the launch. I am not sure how many of them managed to swim to the shore.”
He said the fire erupted from the engine room following an explosion.
Rescuers have so far recovered 40 bodies, with officials fearing that the toll may rise.
Also read - Inquiries opened into deadly Jhalakathi launch fire
More than 70 passengers of the launch have been sent to the local hospitals, Fire Service Deputy Director Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan told the media.
The fire is believed to have originated in the engine room and then ripped through the launch packed with people, he said.
Dhaka TribuneJhalakathi Sadar Hospital Resident Medical Officer Dr Amir Hossain said those with critical injuries were given first aid and sent to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal city.
Of the 72 injured, some 66 with serious burns have been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Barisal. The others are being treated at Jhalokathi Sadar Hospital.
"Of the 66 with up to 50% burns, 18 are women," said Dr Moniruzzaman, assistant director at SBMCH. "Three women and four men with life-threatening burns have been referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital as we've no dedicated burn unit."
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has formed a six-member committee to investigate the launch fire. Md Saiful Islam, additional director of the port and transportation department, will head it.
The Ministry of Shipping has also formed a seven-strong probe body to look into the incident, with ministry Joint Secretary Tofael Islam as its convener. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three business days.