Death toll rises to 15

Two women, who received burn injuries while warming themselves by burning straw in Kurigram and Panchagarh districts, succumbed to their injuries at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) yesterday, raising the death toll in the incident to 15.

The deceased were identified as Nuriza Begum, 30, wife of Enamul Haque of Kurigram, and Arzina Begum, 30, wife of Golam Mostafa of Panchagarh's Debiganj upazila.

Of the two, Arzina succumbed to her burn injures around 3:00am while Nuriza died around 9:00am at the burn unit of the hospital, RMCH sources said.

According to RMCH officials, at least 55 people sustained injuries from fires they had lit to keep themselves warm in different districts under Rangpur division since the falling of temperature in the region started in early January.

Twenty five more patients, mostly women and children, bearing burn injuries from similar incidents are still undergoing treatment at the hospital, Head of Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at RMCH Dr Maruful Islam said.

Besides, eight other patients so far had been referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, added the doctor.