10 burnt in fire caused by ‘gas cylinder leak’ in Ashulia

Ten people, including five women, suffered burn injuries in an explosion caused by "gas cylinder leak" at a tin-shed house at Ashulia in Savar.

The injured were admitted to Sheikh Fazilatunnesa KPJ Hospital, Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex.

The injured are Sabina Begum, 40, Mohsin Hossain, 27, Mohsin's mother Komola Begum, 50, Nazrul Islam, 45, Sadekul, 30, Md Hashem Mia, 50, Jobeda Begum, 40, Rezia Begum, 30, Aleya Noor, 35, and Aman Ullah, 45.

Md Momtaz Uddin, a member of ward 5 of Dhamsona union parishad, told The Daily Star that the accident took place at a rented house of one Shafiq in Notunnagar Mothnertek area of Ashulia around 8:00pm yesterday.

Motaleb Hossain, husband of injured Sabina who is undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said he was not home when the incident occurred.

"I heard a big bang around 8:00pm. When I rushed home, I saw several rooms including mine. Later, six persons including my wife were rescued and taken to the burn institute," he added.

He also said that all the people who live in the tin-shed rooms used to cook in the gas stove. The explosion might have caused by "gas cylinder leak", Motaleb added.

Sheikh Hasina burn institute's Residential Surgeon Dr Tariqul Islam said six burn patients have been admitted to the hospital last night.

Meanwhile, quoting locals and the injured, an official of Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) Fire Service and Civil Defence office said the explosion happened when garment worker Jobeda returned to home after her work. Suddenly, fire spread when she went to light her stove.

During this time several persons suffered burn injuries. Four of them – Jobeda, Rezia, Aleya and Nazrul – were rushed to Sheikh Fazilatunnesa KPJ Hospital, the official added.

"We came to know that the gas leaked from the cap of the cylinder," he said.