4 Dead, 40 Taken Ill in Gas Leak:

Dhaka, Oct 16 (bdnews24.com) – Four people were dead and at least 40 taken ill in two separate incidents of gas leakage in the country.

In one incident, 4 workers died after inhaling poisonous gas in the shipbreaking yard in Chittagong when a beached ship was being gas-freed on Sunday evening in Giri Subedar Shipbreaking Yard.

Those dead were identified as –

1. Mir Kashem, 22,
2. Nesar Uddin, 25,
3. Younus, 23, and
4. Gias Uddin, 25.

The yard in Bara Awlia area of the port city is owned by Lokman Hakim.

2 people were also reported to have fallen sick due to the gas and admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said medical police post sub-inspector Mohammad Zahirul Islam.

Shipyard general manager Mohammad Sekandar told bdnews24.com, "In the evening, many were taken ill making a ship gas-free."

But he denied any knowledge about 4 people dying in the incident.

In another incident, earlier in the day, at least 40 people, including 12 firemen, fell sick after a pipe of the chlorine unit of a chemical factory leaked at Keraniganj in Dhaka.

The pipe of the chlorine unit of Global Heavy Chemical Company Limited leaked around 9am on Sunday, South Keraniganj police chief Sakhawat Hossain told bdnews24.com.

"The situation is under control now," he added.

Fire brigade control room officer Nilufar Yasmin told bdnews24.com that the information fire fighters repaired the leak after around half an hour.

But many people including the fire fighters fell sick before the pipe was repaired.

They have been admitted to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The police officer said owner of the chemical factory Sabur Khan could not be immediately reached for comment.

Source: bdnews24.com. 16 October 2011

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