Gas explosion at Meghnaghat power plant canteen leaves 12 burned in Narayanganj

At least 12 people suffered burn injuries after a gas explosion rocked the canteen of JERA Meghnaghat Power Plant Limited in Sonargaon Upazila of Narayanganj this afternoon. The injured were immediately taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) for treatment. According to officials, the explosion occurred around 1:00pm while employees were standing in a queue for lunch inside the canteen.

Witnesses said the blast originated in the kitchen area and was followed by a fire. The injured were identified as Md Monir Hossain, 45, Md Ramizul, 15, Badrul Hyder, 50, Tuhin Sheikh, 30, Osman Goni, 30, Saiful Islam, 30, Shuprabhat Gosh, 42, Al Amin, 30, Nazmul Alom Khan, 40, Shankar, 35, Kawsar, 30, and Md Amir, 25. The first six victims are currently under observation with burn injuries ranging from three to five percent. The remaining six victims — Shuprabhat Gosh with 12 percent burns, Al Amin with 22 percent, Nazmul Alom Khan with 13 percent, Shankar with 46 percent, Kawsar with 59 percent, and Md Amir with 80 percent burn injuries — were admitted to the institute.

Resident Surgeon of the institute, Dr Shawon bin Rahman, confirmed the matter and said that the Health and Family Welfare Minister is scheduled to visit the victims at the institute later today. An official concerned said preliminary findings suggest that gas may have accumulated in the kitchen after a stove was accidentally left on following cooking activities. “When a matchstick was lit later, the accumulated gas likely triggered the explosion and subsequent fire,” the official said.