Gas explosion burns 5 members of same family in N’ganj

Five members of the same family, including children, suffered severe burn injuries after a gas explosion occurred while a stove was being lit in the Giridhara area of Fatullah, Narayanganj on Sunday.

The victims were identified as vegetable vendor Kalam (47), his wife Salma (35), their son Munna (12), and daughters Munni (10) and Kotha (5). All five were rescued in critical condition and admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

The incident occurred at around 6:55 am on Sunday (May 10) in a ground-floor apartment of a nine-storey building in the Giridhara area of Fatullah. The family hails from Barukdia village in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali district.

Rescuer Rakib said the victims were found badly burned in front of the house in the early morning hours.

They were immediately taken to the burn institute for treatment. Quoting burn victim Salma Begum, he said the entire family had been asleep at the time of the incident. Early in the morning, Kalam went to the kitchen to light the gas stove when a loud explosion suddenly occurred, causing flames to spread throughout the house.

The family somehow managed to escape from the burning apartment to save their lives.

Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery said the condition of all five victims remains critical.

According to doctors, Kalam suffered burns to 95 percent of his body, Salma 60 percent, Munna 30 percent, Munni 35 percent, and Kotha 52 percent.

Abdullah Al Arifin, Deputy Director of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, said preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a gas line leak.