Launch fire tragedy: Another 8-year-old victim dies

Prothom Alo English Desk

The death toll from deadly launch fire off the coast of Jhalakathi on 24 December rose to 48 on Sunday, as an 8-year-old admitted with over 30 per cent burns succumbed to his injuries at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, reports UNB.

Tamim was kept on life support at the institute's intensive care unit (ICU) as his trachea got damaged. He expired at around 5:50pm, said resident surgeon SM Ayub Hossain.

The toll reached 47 on Wednesday with the death of another 45-year-old at the institute. The deceased was identified as Shahinur, who suffered 40 per cent burns from the fire, said the hospital authority.

According to a list maintained by Red Crescent Bangladesh's Jhalakathi district office, at least 58 were still missing as of Wednesday. On Tuesday, the police control room set up at the launch terminal provided information about 41 missing passengers, said Md Salauddin, a sub-inspector at Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station.

On Sunday, Dhaka Marine Court ordered to send the two drivers of the MV Abhijan-10 launch to jail in a case filed over the loss of life.