Five workers injured in furnace explosion

A furnace explosion at a steel factory in Shitalpur area under Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram left five workers injured early yesterday.

Four workers of Shitalpur Steel Mill were sent to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital with severe burn injuries sustained from melted iron, said Polash Kumar Das, inspector of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment.

“They are now in critical condition,” he added.

Those admitted to DMCH were identified as Mohammad Miah, 35, from Noakhali; Md Riad Hossain, 30, from Laxmipur; Md Amzad Hossain, 40, from Lalmonirhat; and Md Mainuddin, 37, from Cumilla, said Das.

He said the iron melting furnace exploded around 4am yesterday. “The furnace of the re-rolling mill exploded with a big bang and melted iron went everywhere, causing severe injuries.”

The workers did not have any heat-tolerant or protective gear, added the Inspector.

Another injured, Zakir Hossain received treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), said Alauddin Talukdar, assistant sub-inspector of CMCH police outpost.

The owner or other officials of the factory could not be reached for comments.