Lethal gas found in gutted Mirpur warehouse

Toxic hydrogen sulphide gas at "immediately lethal" levels was detected yesterday inside the burnt chemical warehouse in Mirpur's Shialbari, where smoke was still billowing more than 72 hours after a blaze killed at least 16 people.

The hydrogen sulphide concentration inside the warehouse was measured at 149 parts per million (PPM), said Mohammad Mahmuduzzaman, assistant commissioner and team leader of the DMP's Bomb Disposal Unit, yesterday.

He warned that exposure to hydrogen sulphide at levels above 100 PPM can cause instant unconsciousness and death. Other toxic gases, including carbon monoxide, were also detected, and many sacks of chemicals were still lying inside, he added.

Earlier, Mahmuduzzaman and a four-member team entered the warehouse equipped with gas detectors and other equipment.

"The gas levels were fluctuating and rising," he said. "Yesterday (Thursday), our gas detectors found hydrogen sulphide above 20 PPM. Today (Friday), it was 149 PPM."

He also cautioned that other toxic elements were present in the surrounding air and advised evacuating people within a 150–300 metre radius, warning that the gas could spread up to 1.5 kilometres downwind.

Fire service officials confirmed that the warehouse was filled with chemicals.

"We have information that chemicals worth Tk 7 crore were brought to the warehouse just the day before the fire. The whole warehouse was full to its maximum," said Talha Bin Zasim, media officer of Fire Service & Civil Defence.

Despite the danger, crowds of onlookers and grieving families gathered at the site yesterday, while nearby factories and businesses remained closed for the third straight day.

Many family members, who believe their loved ones are still inside, were seen wailing at the scene.

Several tried to break through a police barricade to enter the gutted "Arian Fashion" garment factory, which caught fire on Tuesday.

They claimed their relatives were not among the 16 bodies taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and insisted the bodies were still inside.

Tara Begum, one of those trying to enter, said her 14-year-old son Abdul Alim had worked at the factory last month but had not received his salary. He was told to come to the factory on October 14 to collect his pay.

The fire occurred that day, and she has not seen him since.

"None of the bodies at the DMCH morgue looks like my son. I want to go inside. My son's body is still lying there," she said.