Gas cylinder of bus explodes, 35 hurt

Gas cylinder of this bus exploded near the Brac office on Rangpur-Dinajpur road in Palashbari upazila under Gaibandha district on Monday night, causing burn injuries to 35 passengers. PHOTO: STAR

At least 35 passengers of a CNG-run night coach sustained burn injures as a gas cylinder of the vehicle exploded near Brac office at Palashbari on Rangpur-Bogra highway on Monday.
Police and locals said as soon as a Comilla-bound Saikat Paribahan reached the area around 9:30pm, a gas cylinder at the bottom of chassis exploded with a big bang.
As the fire broke out in the bus, the driver lost control over steering and the vehicle hit a roadside tree, injuring 35 passengers.
On information, police rushed to the spot and rescued the injured and sent them to hospitals, said Rezaul Karim, officer in-charge of Palashbari Police Station.
Of them, five were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital while the rest to Palashbari Upazila Health Complex.
The coach was badly damaged before arrival of the fire fighters from Gaibandha, said the OC.