Fridge compressor blast burns 9 of a family in Siddhirganj

An explosion of a fridge's compressor due to an electrical short-circuit has burned nine people of the same family, including women and children, at Siddhirganj of Narayanganj. 

The blast occurred at the tin-shed house of Zakir Khandaker in Painadi Muri Factory in Siddhirganj at around 3am on Saturday.

On information, two units from Kachpur and EPZ Fire Service rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.

The nine injured were identified as Tahera, 65, Hasan, 37, Asma, 35, Salma, 30, Tisha, 16, Arafat, 13, Muntaha, 11, Jannat, 4, and 1-month-old Raiyan. 

They were rescued and brought to a local hospital first, and sent to Dhaka afterwards. Tahera Begum was admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and the rest were admitted to the National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery.

All nine were from Cumilla's Debidwar. Tahera's younger sister Mariam said her sister came to her son-in-law Hasan's house three months ago. The explosion early on Saturday caused a massive blast and even detached the tin roof. 

Local resident Md Mamun said, Hasan's father-in-law, Abdur Rashid, used to be the caretaker of this house. He died a few days ago. His three daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren all rented the three rooms of the tin-shed house. The blast burned people living in two of the rooms. 

Adamji Fire Service Senior Station Officer said the event occurred when the fridge compressor exploded because of an electrical short-circuit. However, Siddhirganj Police Station Officer in Charge Shahinur Alam said the cause of the blast cannot be determined without an investigation.