Family devastated by boiler blast

Muzam Ali along with his five brothers got out of home on Wednesday morning to go to Jamuna Automatic Rice Mill at Gopalganj in the district.

Sons of 78-year-old Jahir Mohammad of Muzahidpur village under Sadar upazila, all six brothers were workers of the mill.

As rain started, Muzam went back home halfway from the destination.

“Around 12:30pm, some villagers informed me about boiler explosion at the mill. I rushed to M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital and found my five brothers there. Four of them were badly burned, while Mokbul Hossain escaped the explosion with minor injuries,” he added.

Three of his brothers -- Mokshed Ali, 55, Rustam Ali, 45, and Delwar Hossain, 38, --have died so far at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Condition of the fourth brother, Badal Mia, who has been undergoing treatment at RMCH, was stated to be critical.

“Six of my grandchildren have lost their fathers in the boiler blast. I do not know what will happen to them in future,”said Jahir, adding, the sons were the lone bread earners of their respective families.

Mokhiba Khatun, 72, mother of the three deceased brothers, has been in a trauma since their deaths. “She might die from the shock anytime,” said Roksana, her daughter.

Villagers gathered around their houses to console the grieved families after hearing the news.

As many as 12 people including a woman have so far died in the blast. Five of them were from Muzahidpur village, three from Rudrapur village and the rest were from Bhabanipur village under Sadar upazila.

Shafiqul Islam, boiler operator who was badly injured when a brick hit him after the blast, told The Daily Star that the boiler was faulty and he had several times warned owner Subal Ghosh in vain.

“The boiler went off with a big bang around 11:30am on Wednesday,” Shafiqul said, adding, when he recovered his strength, he came out and saw many people crying for help.

After seeing severed limbs around he fainted and later found himself on the bed of RMCH.

Shafiqul is the only worker of the mill who returned home from RMCH on Sunday night. He said the mill remained shut for three months last year due to the faulty boiler.

Asma Begum, 77-year-old grandmother of victim Ariful Islam, 27, of Muzahidpur village, said she used to take care of her grandson when his parents had died long ago.

“He left behind my great grandchildren,” said Asma with tears in her eyes. “I was a dependent in the family after he had got the job. Now I do not know how I will raise his children,” she added.

Locals say most of the workers who died in the blast were the lone bread earners of their families. They add they have been busy with burial and funeral as the injured were dying one after another.

Victimes' families alleged no one from the rice mill visited them or announced any compensation.

Contacted, Mir Khairul Alam, deputy commissioner of Dinajpur, said his office had distributed Tk 20,000 for each of the deceased's family and Tk 5,000 for each of the injured.

Besides, Dinajpur rice mill operators' association and Dinajpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been jointly financing the treatment of the injured.