A man died and over a dozen people fell sick after inhaling toxic gas in Dhaka鈥檚 Adabar area early Tuesday.
The deceased, Kabir Hossain, 44, of Sonapur village in Ramganj upazila of Lakshmipur, had come to the city to meet his cousin Ruhul Amin.
Adabar police station officer-in-charge Mahbubur Rahman said that the incident occurred at about 2:30am. Kabir and 12 others were affected by the toxic gas.
Ruhul Amin, who works in a company in the Beribadh area of Turag Housing, said that Kabir was visiting and staying with him in the company鈥檚 garage.
Ruhul explained that a chemical drum exploded at a scrap material shop in the Beribadh area near Shyamoli Housing Project-2 at about 2:00am, causing the release of the toxic gas. Many residents in the surrounding area also fell sick from the exposure.
Kabir was initially taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 7:00am by the on-duty physician, according to Ruhul.
DMCH police outpost in-charge inspector Md Bachchu Mia said that the body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.
OC Mahbubur Rahman said that the type of gas cylinder, involved in the incident, was unknown.
鈥榃e are investigating the matter. The criminal investigation department team has been informed to identify the cylinder type. Details will be known after the test,鈥� added the police official.
