6 dead in Sitakunda oxygen plant blast

An oxygen plant in Sitakunda, Chattogram, caught fire after an explosion on Saturday, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries.

SM Shafiullah, superintendent of Chattogram police confirmed the news of the deaths and said at least 30 people sustained injuries.

The event happened on Saturday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. at Sheema Automatic Re-Rolling Mills Limited in the Kadamrasulpur neighborhood of the port city, next to Dhaka-Chattogram highway. 

At the Chattagong Medical College and Hospital, more than 20 patients are in serious condition.

One of the victims is shop owner Shamsul Alam, 65.

Raihan Uddin, his son, stated: "About a half kilometer distant from the plant, my father was at work in his store. My father was instantly killed when a piece of iron dropped on his shoulder."

Nine units of Sitakunda and Kumira Fire Service worked to douse the fire and brought the fire under control around 5.40pm, firefighter Fazle Rabbi told the media. 

Locals reported finding oxygen cylinders scattered over the plant's grounds.

However, the reason behind the blast and fire could not be known immediately, Sitakunda Fire Service officer Md Fazle Rabbi said

A terrible fire at BM Container Depot earlier on June 4 of last year left more than 200 people injured and 50 people dead.

Heavy industry has grown in Chattogram's Sitakunda region, including the steel, oxygen, and shipbreaking industries.