Narayanganj mosque explosion: 8 surviving victims shifted to ICU
Another person died of injuries on Tuesday at the ICU of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery
The death toll in the gruesome mosque explosion in Narayanganj reached 28 after another burn victim succumbed to injuries on Tuesday.
Abdul Hannan, 50, died while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dr Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the facility, told The Business Standard.
Meanwhile, the last eight surviving victims – who sustained critical burn injuries during the incident on Friday – have been shifted to the ICU in critical condition.
Dr Partha Shankar Pal, resident physician of the institute, told the media, "All eight of them are in critical condition as their windpipes have been burnt. They suffered 50% to 90% burns on their bodies. We are continuing our effort to save their lives."
Thirty-seven people were injured in an explosion from an air conditioner at Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in Fatullah, Narayanganj on Friday night during Isha prayers. Till the filing of this report on Tuesday, 28 of them had died of their injuries.
One patient was discharged from the hospital on Monday.
India expresses grief
India on Tuesday expressed grief over the mosque explosion in Narayanganj, which has caused 28 deaths to date.
India's External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on behalf of the Indian government and people, penned a condolence letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing his grief.
He wrote, "We are saddened to learn about the terrible loss of lives and injuries sustained due to the unfortunate accident at the Baitus Salat Jame Mosque in Narayanganj on Friday, September 4, 2020."
Extending his sympathy towards the bereaved families, he wished an expeditious recovery to those injured.
Four separate probe committees – by Narayanganj district administration, Fire Service, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd, and Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) – have been formed to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the widespread speculation that the explosion was caused by gas leaking from an underground pipeline has been found to be true. Investigators from the Titas Gas found leakages in the underground gas pipeline that passed beneath the mosque.