Five wounded in cylinder blast

Five people, including two on-duty cops and an 11-year-old boy, were injured as a gas cylinder exploded in Stadium area of Khagrachhari early yesterday.

Among the injured, the cops -- Md Shahin, Md Ismail, police constables of Khagrachhari police lines -- and Boren Tripura, a government employee, were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, two others, Tulasi Rani Gosh and Pallob Chowdhury, 11, were sent to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.

Witnesses said the incident occurred around 6:20am when Tulasi was pumping gas inside balloons since her husband, a balloon hawker, went to a nearby tea stall.

Shahin and Ismail were deployed at the stadium where a Victory Day parade was about to begin, while Boren came to buy some balloons. Pallob, a resident of the area, was a bystander, said police.