Two workers of Karnaphuli Paper Mills (KPM) were killed and another was injured when a hydrogen tank exploded at the mill in Kaptai upazila of Rangamati yesterday.
The dead are Obaidul Haque, 55, and Rabiul Islam, 30, from Noakhali.
Co-workers said the blast occurred at the chemical plant of the mill around 11:30am when the trio were welding the tank to repair it.
Obaidul died on the spot while Rabiul succumbed to his injuries at Christian Missionary Hospital in Chandraghona. Critically injured Moinuddin was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
The trio were temporary workers at the mechanical section of the mill.
Milan Paul, a fellow worker at the electrical section, told The Daily Star that although using any inflammable material in and around the chemical plant is prohibited, the three were ordered to weld the hydrogen tank there.
He said production in-charge Rezaul Alam gave the clearance to mechanical in-charge Firoj Alam for doing the repair work at the chemical plant and accordingly, Firoj allowed the workers to do the repair there.
Contacted, Anwarul Islam, managing director of KPM, said there might have been lack of safety measures at the chemical plant.
A four-member enquiry committee headed by KPM’s additional chief medical officer Abdul Quadir Bhuiyan was formed to probe the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within three days, he added.
Punitive action will be taken against any official if found guilty of neglect, mentioned Anwarul.
Regarding compensation for the victims’ families, he said steps will be taken according to the company rules.
Kaptai police handed over the bodies to the victims’ families. Yesterday evening, the bodies were being taken to Noakhali for burial.
FAMILIES RUINED
Uncertainty gripped the families of the two deceased workers as they lost their key earning members.
Father of two sons and five daughters, Obaidul had to maintain his family with a daily wage of Tk 154. To earn extra money, he used to bind books after his office hours.
Visiting his residence at Lichubagan in Chandraghona, this correspondent found his wife and children wailing.
“I just want my father back, nothing else,” said Obaidul’s daughter Nurjahan in tears.
The death of Rabuil has left his family devastated. His wife and two children even do not know where to go for compensation.
-With The Daily Star input
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