Gas cylinder blast, fire at Ashulia factory compound kills 6, at least 24 injured
The fire broke out after cylinders exploded in a gas-cylinder carrying covered van parked in front of the garment factory.
Six people have been killed and at least 24 injured after gas cylinders exploded inside a covered van at a garment factory compound in Dhaka's Ashulia today (20 September).
The incident occurred at the premises of Pretty Group in the Jamgora area of Ashulia.
The identities of those killed have not yet been confirmed.
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Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Tarikul Islam told The Business Standard (TBS) that six people had died so far, including five inside the factory premises and one outside.
"Search operations are still underway. Details will be available later," he said.
A deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence's Zone-4 told TBS that firefighters had recovered six bodies, including a woman who was found outside the premises.
"Of the remaining five bodies recovered from the spot, we have identified one as a man. Our search operation is still ongoing," the official said.
Meanwhile, Ashulia Women and Children Hospital Senior Manager (Operations) Harun-or-Rashid told TBS that 24 injured people had been brought to the hospital.
"Three of them were in critical condition and have been referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. The others are receiving treatment here," he said.
The fire broke out at around 6:45pm, according to Fire Service officials.
Four units from DEPZ and Zirabo fire stations rushed to the scene and began efforts to contain the blaze.
The fire was brought under control at around 8:03pm, said Hafizur Rahman, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence's Dhaka Zone-4.
He said firefighters initially suspected that the fire had started after gas cylinders exploded in a specialised lorry carrying cylinders parked in front of the Pretty Group garment factory.
Five to six covered vans belonging to the company were also damaged in the fire, he said.
On-site findings
A midnight visit to the factory premises following the fire revealed extensive signs of damage throughout the facility.
The Pretty Composite Textile Limited factory, part of Pretty Group and locally known as "Pretty Garments", has a plaque displaying its LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) installed beside its main entrance.
Burn marks and other signs of the fire were visible across the factory premises. Inside the compound, the area beside the road where the explosion and subsequent fire occurred was littered with at least 50 gas cylinders, including fragments of exploded cylinders, as well as pieces torn from several covered vans by the blast.
Most of the glass windows of a factory building adjacent to the site, as well as those of the neighbouring FNF Trend Fashion Limited factory, were shattered. The two buildings are located less than 50 metres from the site of the incident.
Even during the visit, a few of the cylinders lying at the scene appeared to be leaking gas, producing sounds similar to gas escaping.
Most of the covered vans parked in rows nearby had been burned. One of them was found severely twisted and mangled.
Several workers present at the scene said the van had been damaged after the gas cylinders inside it exploded, causing parts of the cylinders to pierce through the vehicle's body and scatter in different directions.
Another covered van parked nearby was also found burned, with several gas cylinders standing upright inside it.
No factory officials were present during the visit, so no comment could be obtained from the factory authorities.
Attempts were also made to contact Pretty Group Managing Director Rezin Ahmed Talukder regarding the fire and the transportation and use of gas cylinders, including the reported practice of placing the cylinders inside covered vans. However, the mobile phone number listed for him on the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) website was found switched off, and his comment could not be obtained.
