Jhalakathi launch fire: Death toll climbs to 39

At least 39 people were charred to death and 72 others injured in a major fire that ripped through a launch carrying some 800 passengers from Dhaka to Barguna in the early hours of Friday, reports UNB.

The blaze broke out on board the three-storey Avijan-10 in the middle of the Sugandha river off the coast of Jhalakathi district's Sadar upazila, 250kms south of Dhaka, around 3:00am.

Within five to 10 minutes, the flames engulfed the vessel.

"We were alerted around 3:30am," Fazlul Haque of Fire Service and Civil Defence in Barishal, told UNB.

However, due to dense fog in the area, the first firefighting vessels took some time to reach the ill-fated launch.

"Some 39 bodies have been recovered and 72 people rescued from the ill-fated launch," assistant director of Jhalakathi Fire Service and Civil Defence, Kamruzzaman told UNB.

Of the 72 injured, some 66 with serious burns have been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) in Barisal. The others are being treated at Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital.

"Of the 66 with up to 50 per cent burns, 18 are women," said Moniruzzaman, assistant director at SBMCH.

"Three women and four men with life-threatening burns have been referred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital as we've no dedicated burn unit."

Meanwhile, the ill-fated vessel has been brought to the shore. Though the reason behind the fire is yet to be established, the owner of the launch, Ham Jalal Sheikh, said that an explosion on the second floor caused the fire to spread fast.

"In fact, Jhalakathi's local firefighters initially tried to douse the flames and later the Barishal fire service joined them," said Kamal Uddin, deputy director (Barishal division) of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Eventually, some 15 fire tenders took nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control, at 5.20am. "The fire was completely doused around 11.30am," said Kamal.

As it was Thursday, Kamal said, the launch was carrying over 800 passengers. "Most of them jumped off the vessel and swam to the shore after the fire broke out on board."

The shipping ministry and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority have formed two separate committees to probe the fire. The ministry panel has been asked to submit its report within three days.

Fires on passenger vessels are common in Bangladesh. These accidents are often attributed to overloading, poor upkeep of vessels and scant regard for maritime laws.