At least 38 people have died from the devastating fire at a Barguna-bound launch on the Sugandha River in Jhalakathi early Friday.
This is the first fire incident on a moving water vessel in Bangladesh.
As many as 36 of the passengers of MV Obhijan 10 were burned so badly that relatives could not identify the charred bodies, while the authorities fear the death toll may rise as many passengers still remain missing.
More than 70 passengers have been sent to various hospitals for treatment of burn injuries, said Barisal Fire Service Deputy Director Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan, who conducted the rescue operation with help of police, the district administration, and locals.
Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital Resident Medical Officer Dr Amir Hossain said those with critical injuries were given first aid and then sent to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barisal city.
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"Of those who are receiving treatment here with up to 50% burns, 18 are women," said Dr Moniruzzaman, assistant director at SBMCH.
"Three women and four men with critical burns were referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, as we do not have a dedicated burn unit," he added.
The Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery has also formed a medical team to treat the injured passengers of the burnt launch.
Of the 14 injured receiving treatment at the institute, one died around 10:45pm on Friday.
Dhaka Tribune
A letter signed by the Institute’s acting director Prof Raihana Awal said the team of doctors had been formed under the direction of the Health Division, and the team was travelling to Barisal.
Fire Service Deputy Director Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan said there may have been up to a thousand people on board the launch.
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“Injured passengers said passengers were being transported even on the roof of the launch,” he added.
Commodore Golam Sadeq, chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), told Dhaka Tribune: “This launch has a permitted capacity of 420 passengers. I think there were around 500 passengers. We will further investigate how the fire took place.”
Expressing profound shock and sorrow at the loss of lives and injuries in the fire, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to ensure quick treatment of the injured and hand over the bodies to their relatives promptly.
She prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members, and the quick recovery of the injured.
How did the fire start?
According to various sources, the launch had been moving at reckless speeds since it left Sadarghat terminal at 6pm on Thursday. Four technicians were working to fix two reconditioned engines that had been recently installed as the previous engines had been performing poorly.
Launch underwent trial runs after the installation of the reconditioned engines on December 7. Although the newly installed engines were still having some issues, the launch resumed its route on December 19.
Dhaka Tribune
The launch was about 1.5km away from the Jhalakathi launch terminal when the fire erupted around 3am. The captain was not at the wheel when the launch floated to its final resting place on the far side of the river.
Upon being informed of the incident, the local Fire Service rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after toiling for two hours. Local police, coast guard and district administration officials assisted in the rescue and recovery operation, as many passengers jumped into the river in a desperate attempt to save themselves.
The fire is believed to have originated from the engine room and then ripped through the launch packed with people, according to Barisal Fire Service Deputy Director Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan.
Also Read- PM orders prompt treatment of Jhalakathi launch victims
Lt Col Ahmed Anabil, station officer of Barisal Coast Guard, said: "It is suspected that the fire started when the engine of the launch exploded. The question is why the engine would explode, and we need time to find the answer.”
Yassin, a cabin boy of the launch and eyewitness to the breakout of the fire, claimed it began when a gas cylinder in the canteen near the engine room exploded.
“The canteen was next to the engine room, at the back of the ground floor of the launch. The cylinder exploded with a loud noise and caught fire, which quickly spread to the engine room. There were 13 barrels of diesel on the ground floor, which increased the fire,” he told media.
Shamim, a 16-year-old student of a Naryanganj Madrasa who was traveling on the launch, told our Barisal correspondent: “From the evening, the launch was facing disturbances. I went to the launch roof to find a place to sit. Flashes of fire from the exhaust could be seen from time to time. Around 2am, the exhaust exploded and I jumped off the launch out of fear for my life.”
Dhaka Tribune
However, Hum Jalal Sheikh, the owner of the vessel, claimed there were no mechanical faults with the launch.
“There were 21 fire extinguishers, but the fire spread so quickly that there was no time to use them,” he said.
Two probe committees formed
When contacted, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told Dhaka Tribune on Friday evening that he rushed to the accident site and spoke to the injured after being informed about the fire.
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“We have already formed two separate high level probe committees to find the reason for this accident. We have been instructed to prevent general people from visiting the launch and the accident site as the matter is under investigation now,” he said.
The minister added that he could not say anything definitive about the cause of the fire before the probe reports were filed.
The BIWTA has formed a six-member committee to investigate the launch fire. Md Saiful Islam, additional director of the port and transportation department, will lead the committee.
The Ministry of Shipping has also formed a seven-strong probe body to look into the incident, with Joint Secretary Tofael Islam as its convener. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.
1.5L cash assistance for victim’s family
The government will provide financial assistance of Tk1.5 lakh to each of the families of those killed in the launch fire in Jhalakathi, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said.
Also Read- Families of Jhalakathi launch fire victims to get 1.5L in financial assistance
They will also be provided another Tk25,000 to meet funeral expenses, he added.
The state minister made the remark after inspecting the burnt launch at Jhalakathi on Friday afternoon.
"We will provide Tk1.5 lakh to the families of the victims. Besides, the district administration has announced to pay Tk25,000 for each deceased. In addition, we will provide medical assistance to the injured,” Khalid said.