Death toll in Ctg depot fire rises to 49

The death toll in the devastating fire that caused explosions at BM Container Depot in Shitolpur area of Sitakunda upazila in the district has climbed to 49.

"Four more bodies have reached Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) at 6.30pm Sunday, taking the total death toll in the fire incident to 49," said Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Alauddin Talukder of the Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) police outpost.

Earlier, assistant director of the fire service Farooq Siddiqui said 45 bodies were recovered from the spot.bThe local administration has been able to identify 21 bodies so far.

A fire service media cell press release also said that nine fire men died and 15 personnel were injured while trying to douse the flame. Two members of the fire service have still remained 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 which 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. 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 9.35pm last night.

Police and fire service personnel were continuing their efforts to extinguish the flames and rescue people and send 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 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 fuelled by Hydrogen Peroxide, sources said.

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