Vatara gas explosion leaves 2 dead

Two of the three members of a family, who suffered burn injuries in a gas explosion at a house in the city’s Vatara area on July 21, have died in a span of six hours while undergoing treatment.

The deceased were identified as Md Shaheen, 24, and his niece Hafsa, 8.

Hafsa and Shaheen died at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 12:00am and 6:00am, respectively, on Friday, said Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident surgeon at the institute.

He said Shaheen suffered burns on 50 percent of his body, while Hafsa sustained 40 percent burns.
Shaheen’s wife Fahima Akter, 21, who suffered 45 percent burns, is in critical condition and undergoing treatment at the ICU, the physician added.

The explosion occurred at a house on the 100-Foot Road in the Notun Bazar area under Vatara Police Station in the early hours of July 21, leaving the trio injured. They were later taken to the burn institute.

Shaheen’s brother-in-law Jasim said Shaheen worked at a shop and lived with his family on the ground floor of a six-storey building in the area.

He said the family members were asleep when a sudden explosion occurred due to a gas line leak, triggering a fire inside the house.