Worker killed, two injured in AC explosion at Chattogram Medical College Hospital
The deceased was identified as Shawkat, an outsourced employee under the Public Works Department (PWD)
A worker was killed and two others suffered severe burns in a devastating air conditioner explosion at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) today (13 October).
The incident occurred around 10am on the rooftop adjacent to the hospital's gynaecology ward building, police and witnesses said.
The deceased was identified as Shawkat, an outsourced employee under the Public Works Department (PWD). The injured, Mishkat and Tanvir, who also worked under the same department, are now undergoing treatment at the CMCH Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
According to witnesses, the three workers were repairing an AC compressor on the rooftop of the six-storey building when it exploded with a loud bang. Flames spread rapidly, leaving all three men severely burnt. Shawkat reportedly fell off the roof following the blast. He was rescued and taken to the ICU, where doctors later pronounced him dead.
Sub-Inspector Alauddin Talukdar of the CMCH Police outpost confirmed the incident, saying, "The explosion occurred during AC servicing on the rooftop. Three workers were burned, and one succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the ICU."
The explosion sent shockwaves through the gynaecology ward below, where a mother and newborn were being attended to. Aya Sharmin Akhter, who was on duty at the time, said, "There was a deafening sound, and everything went dark. We didn't move, we just held onto the patient."
Ward attendant Imam Hossain added, "We were stunned. The ceiling started to collapse, and we immediately moved the patients to other rooms."
When asked about safety measures for the workers, Mohammad Asif Imrus, Supervising Engineer of the PWD's Electrical and Mechanical Circle in Chattogram, said, "An accident has taken place at CMCH. Our team is on-site to assess the situation. We will investigate whether there was any lapse in safety protocols."
Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
