7 injured in septic tank explosion in Noakhali

Bidhan Bhowmik Bidhan, Noakhali

In a dramatic incident on Saturday night, a septic tank explosion at Adar Hospital in Sadar Upazila, Noakhali, left seven people injured. The explosion, which occurred around 9:30 PM, caused significant damage to the hospital and its surroundings, with three of the injured being transferred to Dhaka for advanced medical care due to their critical condition.
The explosion took place at the Adar Hospital located on Hospital Road in the district town of Maijdi. Among those injured were Md. Dulal, a 26-year-old employee at Adar Pharmacy, along with day laborers Ashiq (28) and Rafel (32), who were involved in cleaning the septic tank in the hospital's basement at the time of the blast.
Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the 250-bed Noakhali General Hospital, Syed Mohiuddin Abdul Azim, confirmed the incident. He reported that the seven injured individuals were initially brought to the Sadar Hospital. Due to the severity of their injuries, three individuals were transferred to Dhaka for better treatment, while one remains hospitalized in Noakhali. Some of the victims sustained only minor injuries.
Md. Abdul Quader, the preceptor of Adar Hospital Pharmacy, described the situation, noting that Ashiq and Rafel were working on the septic tank when the explosion occurred. The blast caused extensive damage to the pharmacy, which was in the vicinity of the explosion. Dulal, along with Ashiq and Rafel, suffered severe burns. Quader estimated his financial loss at approximately 20-25 lakh taka, including damage to medicines valued at 17-18 lakh taka.
Assistant Director of Fire Service and Civil Defense Noakhali, Md. Farid Ahmed, stated that the explosion was caused by a sudden rupture of the septic tank in the building's basement. The blast resulted in the destruction of the Adar Pharmacy and substantial damage to the surrounding area. The exact cause of the explosion and the full extent of the damage are still under investigation.
Authorities are working to determine the precise cause of the explosion and assess the total damage. The Fire Service and Civil Defense will conduct a thorough investigation to understand the factors leading to the incident and prevent future occurrences.
As the community recovers from this traumatic event, the focus will remain on providing adequate care for the injured and addressing the damages caused by this unfortunate accident.