12 injured in gas explosion at power plant canteen

Twelve people were injured in a gas explosion caused by a gas leak at a power plant canteen in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. The injured are Md. Romijul (45), Md. Monir Hossain (45), Badrul Haidar (50), Tuhin Sheikh (30), Suprabhat Ghosh (42), Osman Gani (30), Alamin (30), Nazmul Sheikh (40), Saiful Islam (30), Shankar (25), Kawsar (30), and Md. Amir (25). All of them were rescued and admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. The incident occurred around 1:00 pm on Wednesday, May 13, at the canteen of the JERA Meghnaghat Power Plant located in the Meghnaghat area of Pirojpur Union under Sonargaon upazila. According to preliminary information provided by Sonargaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Sarwar.

officials and employees were having lunch in the canteen when the explosion took place.

He said, “We initially learned that a gas leak in the canteen kitchen triggered the explosion, leaving 12 people burned. The injured were quickly rescued and taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. They are currently receiving treatment there.”

Assistant Professor Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, Residential Surgeon at the institute, confirmed the incident and said the 12 burn victims were brought to the hospital around 2:00 pm. According to him, Amir suffered burns to 80 percent of his body, Kawsar 59 percent, Shankar 46 percent, Nazmul 13 percent, Al Amin 22 percent, Suprabhat 12 percent, Saiful 4 percent, Osman 3 percent, Tuhin and Badrul 5 percent each, Romijul 3 percent, and Monir 2 percent.

Power plant Safety Officer Fakhrul Islam said that Amir, Shankar, Kawsar, and Al Amin were canteen workers, while the others were officials and employees of the power plant.

He explained that after cooking had finished, a gas burner was accidentally left switched on. Later, when someone attempted to light a flame, the explosion occurred.