Four sustain burns in gas line explosion

Four persons, including an employee of Titas Gas and its two hired day labourers, were injured in an explosion at Dhaka's Panthapath minutes after they had gone there Sunday afternoon for gas line repair.

The injured -- Abdullah (55), the employee; Azim (40) and Ruhul Amin (40), the labourers; and Kazi Zafar (30), a pedestrian -- were rushed to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said police.

Azim and Zafar were undergoing treatment with 30 and 27 percent burns while the other two left the hospital after taking treatment, said Abdul Khan, assistant sub-inspector at DMCH Police Outpost.

Mirza Rabiul Alam, a technician of Titas' Dhanmondi Zone, said they received a complaint that there is a problem in underground gas line at Panthapath-Green Road.

Upon receiving the news, a team was sent there Sunday afternoon for repair. An explosion occurred moments after they had reached there, he said.

Rabiul said the reasons behind the blast is yet to be ascertained. It is being investigated whether there is any leak in the gas line, he added.