A 55-year-old man has died several days after suffering severe burns in a fire at a house in Shyambazar, in the capital’s Sutrapur area, bringing the death toll from the incident to two.
Mohammad Siddiq died while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at around 2.15am on Thursday (24 September), according to doctors at the institute. His death came after that of his 25-year-old son, Emon, who had also been critically injured in the same incident.
The fire broke out at a residence in Shyambazar at around 4.45pm on Saturday (19 September), following a family dispute. According to the information available, Emon poured petrol inside his room and set it alight. Five members of the family were caught in the fire and suffered burn injuries, including Siddiq, who was inside the room at the time.
Relatives rescued the injured and took them to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where they were admitted for treatment. The severity of the burns varied considerably among the victims.
Dr Sultan Mahmud, a resident physician at the burn institute, said Siddiq had suffered burns to approximately 35 per cent of his body. Despite receiving treatment, his condition deteriorated and he died early on Thursday.
Emon, who was among those injured in the fire, died before his father. The deaths of the two family members within days of each other have added to the tragedy surrounding the incident.
Three other people remain under treatment at the burn institute. Tania, 18, sustained burns to about 60 per cent of her body and has been described by doctors as being in a critical condition. Rajib, 35, suffered burns to 15 per cent of his body, while Dhalu Mia, also known as Arif, 34, sustained burns to around 8 per cent.
Doctors are continuing to monitor the condition of the three patients, with particular concern over Tania’s injuries because of the extent of the burns.
The incident began with a reported family dispute but quickly turned into a major medical emergency, leaving five people injured and two dead. The circumstances surrounding the fire remain tied to the events inside the Shyambazar residence on the afternoon of 19 September, when the petrol-fuelled blaze spread through the room and injured those present.
With Siddiq’s death, two members of the same family have now lost their lives in the incident, while three others remain in hospital receiving treatment.
