Authorities now say 41 dead in Sitakunda fire

The death toll from the devastating fire at an inland container depot in Chattogram’s Sitakunda stood at 41, instead of 49, said the authorities.

Brigadier General Md Shamim Ahsan, director of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, revealed the information at a media briefing on Monday.

“So far, we have received 41 dead bodies. So, the number of deceased is now 41,” Ahsan told reporters.

However, on Sunday, the district administration and civil surgeon of Chattogram informed that the number of victims was 49.

Mohammed Elias Chowdhury, the civil surgeon of Chattogram, also confirmed the matter that there was a miscalculation in the number of victims in the fire incident amid the rush during the situation. 

“We have received 41 dead bodies. So, the revised number of deceased in the fire incident stood at 41,” he told the Business Insider Bangladesh on Monday.

Over 300 people were injured in that fire that broke out Saturday night following an explosion at BM Container Depot around 9:45 pm.

The fire is yet to be controlled and smoke is emitting from some of the areas inside the inland container depot. Twenty-five firefighting units are working to bring the fire under control.   

Among the 15 victims admitted at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for better medical treatment, 10 of them are in critical conditions.