Staff Reporter:
A dangerously high level of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas has been detected inside a burnt chemical warehouse in the Shialbari area of Mirpur, raising serious public safety concerns.
The Bomb Disposal Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) found hydrogen sulfide concentration inside the warehouse at 149 parts per million (PPM) on Friday afternoon, a level that experts say can cause instant unconsciousness and death without protective gear.
Assistant Police Commissioner Mohammad Mahmuduzzaman, team leader of the DMP Bomb Disposal Unit, briefed reporters at the site on Friday after entering the warehouse with a four-member team equipped with gas detectors and safety devices.
He said that any hydrogen sulfide level above 100 PPM is considered immediately life-threatening.
“Yesterday we detected over 20 PPM, which was already dangerous. Today it has risen dramatically to 149 PPM, which can kill a person within moments if they inhale it without protection,” he said.
He also warned that the surrounding air was contaminated and posed a risk to people nearby. “There are toxic elements in the air around the warehouse. It would be safe to evacuate people within a 150 to 300-meter radius. Depending on the wind direction, people up to 1.5 kilometers downwind should also be moved,” he added.
Mahmuduzzaman said several sacks of unidentified chemicals still remain inside the warehouse. The gas level outside the warehouse was also found to be harmful, with hydrogen sulfide measuring between 70 and 80 PPM.
While carbon monoxide was not detected on Thursday, investigators today found the presence of the lethal gas at 3 PPM inside the warehouse.
He strongly advised against public gatherings near the site. “People, including relatives of the deceased and curious onlookers, are crowding the area. We understand their emotions, but they must remember this is not a normal fire. It is a chemical fire and extremely dangerous. Going near it could be fatal,” he cautioned.
A massive fire broke out at the chemical warehouse in Mirpur’s Shialbari area earlier this week, resulting in multiple casualties.
The intensity of the blaze raised suspicion about the illegal storage of hazardous chemicals inside a densely populated residential area.
Firefighters struggled for hours to control the flames due to repeated explosions caused by stored chemicals.
After the fire was brought under control, the area remained cordoned off due to fears of lingering toxic fumes.
The detection of lethal hydrogen sulfide gas has now heightened concerns over ongoing chemical contamination, raising questions about enforcement of industrial safety regulations and monitoring of hazardous substance storage in Dhaka. Authorities have yet to determine the full list of chemicals stored in the warehouse or whether it had any legal clearance to operate. Investigations are ongoing.
