Ctg container depot blast toll jumps 49

The death toll in the devastating fire that caused explosions at BM Container Depot in Shitolpur area at Sitakunda upazila of the district has gone up to 49 incuding eight firefighters, an official said.

Meanwhile, media reports suggest that a huge cache of chemicls was recovered from the fire-ravaged site. The government agency concerned says it was not aware of the chemical storage there.

Tofazzol Hossen, inspector of Chattogram Explosives Department, said, "We were not informed that chemical is stored there. They did not take any license or approval from us. There is no legal scope to hoard dangerous goods in such space surrounded by locality".

Earlier, assistant director of the fire service Farooq Siddiqui said 33 bodies were so far recovered from the spot.

A fire service media cell press release also said five fire men died and 15 personnel were injured while trying to extinguish the flame as its two members went missing. 

Over three hundred people, including police and fire service personnel were also injured in the incident, hospital sources said.

More than 300 injured people, of whom, many received burn injuries, are undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Chattogram, they added.

However, the actual number of injured people could not be verified independently. 

Asharf Uddin, divisional commissioner of Chattogram, told newsmen that the families of the deceased persons are being given Tk 50,000 by the DC office while Tk 20,000 to the families of the injured people. 

A team of army personnel reached the depot to help bring the fire under control, he said.

ASI Talukder said 28 bodies were kept in the CMCH morgue. 

The fire originated at the depot at about 9.35 am last night.

Police and fire service personnel are trying to douse the flames and rescuing people and sending them to hospitals. 

BM Container Depot Ltd is a Netherlands-Bangladesh joint venture, according to the police and officials of the depot. 

Faruk Hossain Sikdar, assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, said that at least 20 units of the fire service were dispatched to the place of occurrence.

The blaze was not brought under control yet in spite of nine hours hectic efforts.

The fire service and civil defense personnel were unable to make headway despite multiple attempts were in place since this morning due to fire that is being sometimes fuelled by Hydrogen peroxide, sources said.

High government officials including CMP commissioner and divisional commissioner visited the CMCH.