POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Dec 24, 2021 : The death toll in the deadly fire that broke out on a launch in the Sugandha river at Sadar upazila at Jhalakathi district in Bangladesh early Friday rose to 39.The incident took place in the river near Gabkhan Dhanshiri area at about 3:00am on Friday which also left over 200 people burn injured.
Severely injured persons were sent to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital while others to different local hospitals.
Kamal Hossain Bhuiyan, deputy director of Barishal Fire Service and Civil Defence, confirmed the matter.
Five units of the fire service were working to rescue the injured, said the fire service official, adding the death may rise as many people received severe burn injuries.
It was learnt that the ‘MV Abhijan-10’ launch, carrying around one thousand passengers, was going to Barguna from Dhaka. The engine room of the vessel suddenly caught fire and soon spread all over the launch while it was on the middle of the river.
Panic spread among the passengers and many of them jumped into the river and managed to swim ashore.
The launch was later anchored to Ponabalia area on the river bank.
The Ministry of Shipping has formed an eight-member investigation committee to probe the horrific fire at MV Abhiyan-10 launch on Sugandha river in Jhalokati.
Tofail Ahmed, joint secretary of the ministry, has been made the convener and Aminur Rahman, deputy secretary, has been made the member secretary of the committee.
The committee has one representative each from BIWTA, Department of Shipping, Naval Police, District Administration and Fire Service.
