7 killed in N’ganj gas explosions within a week

Gas leak explosions and fires are becoming increasingly alarming in the industrial city of Narayanganj.

Over the past seven days, three separate explosions and fire incidents caused by gas leaks have claimed the lives of seven people, including five members of the same family.

A total of 21 people were injured in these incidents.

The latest incident occurred on May 13 at the Zera Meghnaghat Power Plant in the Meghnaghat area of Sonargaon Upazila, Narayanganj.

A gas cylinder leak triggered an explosion, leaving 12 officials and employees of the plant with burn injuries.

The injured were rushed to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Six of them were released after primary treatment, while the remaining six were admitted for further care.

One of the injured, Shankar, 25, died on Thursday night while undergoing treatment.

Earlier, on May 11, a fire caused by a gas leak broke out in the Lucky Bazar area of Kutubpur in Fatullah, injuring four people, including a father and son.

Among them, the father, Abdul Kader, 50, later died while receiving treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Before that, on the morning of May 10, a gas leak sparked a fire in a ground-floor apartment of an eight-story building in the Giridhara area of North Bhuighar, Fatullah.

Five members of the same family, including children, were critically burned.

Later, vegetable vendor Kalam, his wife Sayma, their 10-year-old daughter Munni, 12-year-old son Munna, and 7-year-old daughter Kotha all died while receiving treatment.

The series of gas explosions has created widespread panic across Narayanganj.

Residents are urging the authorities to strengthen monitoring and repair faulty gas lines in order to prevent further loss of life.

Concerned citizens and safety experts say that effective oversight by the relevant authorities is now essential to ensure the safety of gas pipelines and cylinders.