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The unit was already full by the time this correspondent went to the hospital. According to Liton Kumar Palit, CMCH burn unit’s assistant registrar, 48 people were admitted to the burn unit till then, sustaining injuries ranging from 10 to 60 percent.

Most of the injured are workers at the depot.

Salauddin is one such worker, fighting for his life at the unit. “We have only been married for six months. I’m expecting our first child,” said Parveen Akhtar, Salauddin’s wife. “We have been pushed into uncertainty within the blink of an eye.”

Many patients were sent to private hospitals and Dhaka due to lack of space and appropriate treatment at CMCH. Following the rush of patients, the hospital administration converted its Gynae Ward into a make-shift burn unit, informed Liton.

Due to space crisis, patients occupying available beds left their spots and took to the floors to accommodate the injured.

“We have 60 bags of negative and 200 bags of positive blood. Many donors have come to the hospital to donate blood. After collecting their information, we have sent them back as no blood is needed at the moment,” said Dr Tanzila Tabib Chowdhury, head of the Blood Transfusion Department of CMCH.