Cox’s Bazar LPG station blast: CNG driver died from severe burns in Dhaka’s burn institute, son says

A CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, injured in a blast at an LPG filling station in Cox’s Bazar on February 25, died this afternoon while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

The victim, Abu Taher, breathed his last around 2:45pm, his eldest son Md Sohel confirmed to reporters.

The explosion occurred shortly after 10:00 pm on February 25 at an LPG station owned by N Alam in the Kolatoli area of Cox’s Bazar town. At least 10 people, including Abu Taher, were injured in the blast.

The injured were initially taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. As their condition worsened, six of them, including Abu Taher, were referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital later that night.

On February 26, three of the six patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. As Abu Taher’s condition deteriorated further, he was transferred to the National Burn Institute in Dhaka on February 27.

Dr Ashfaqul Asif, registrar of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at CMCH, earlier stated that around 90 percent of Abu Taher’s body, including his airway, had been burned.

Following the incident, authorities formed a probe committee headed by the Additional District Magistrate to investigate the blast.