Husband, Wife Burnt to Death in 'Refrigerator Compressor Blast'

Husband and wife, who had sustained burn injuries in a blast of a compressor machine at Jatrabari Konapara of the capital, died at a hospital.

They are - Md Abdul Karim (30) and Mst Khadija Akhter (25). They died at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery two hours apart on Monday (April 25).

The condition of their two-year-old daughter Fatima is critical.

Confirming the matter, the resident surgeon of the institute Dr. Ayub Hossain said that the wife died at around 4 am and the husband at around 6 am while undergoing treatment.

Abdul Karim's body was 54 percent burnt and his wife Khadija was 95 percent burnt. And their daughter's body is 35 percent burnt.

The tragic incident took place on the ground floor of Abdul Kalam's four-storey house at Jatrabari Konapara Arabari Battala around 3:30 pm on April 20 (Wednesday). Their families claim the explosion was caused by a compressor in the refrigerator. However, police and Titas Gas said not the refrigerator compressor but the accumulated gas in the kitchen is the reason behind the blast.

Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge (inspector) of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said the body was kept at the DMCH morgue for autopsy. The matter has been reported to the concerned police station.