Another student dies after electrical flash burns in Fatullah

Another student who suffered burns in an electrical flash at a women’s madrasa in Fatullah, Narayanganj, has died, raising the death toll from the incident to two.

The deceased, identified as Jidni, 14, died at the ICU of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka around 6:00 AM on Wednesday, doctors said. An 11-year-old student, Atia, had earlier died in the same incident.

Dr Sultan Mahmud Shikdar, residential surgeon (emergency) at the institute, said Jidni suffered electrical flash burns to 82 per cent of her body. She had been receiving treatment in the ICU in critical condition before she died on Wednesday morning.

Atia died while undergoing treatment around 5:30 PM on Tuesday. Two students have now died in the incident.

Meanwhile, Lamia, 13, remains in the ICU. She suffered burns to 55 per cent of her body and her condition is critical, doctors said. The other two students, Asia and Sumaiya, were shifted from the ICU to a ward after their conditions stabilised.

The incident occurred around 4:30 PM on September 26 on the roof of Mahela Khatun Women’s Madrasa in the Hajipara area of Kashipur, Fatullah. Five residential students were on the roof at the time.

A leafy sugarcane stalk carried by the students came into contact with a high-voltage power line, creating an electrical flash that burned all five students. They were rescued in critical condition and taken to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for treatment.

- MaT