National

Gazipur gas cylinder blast: Death toll reaches 5 as 2 more die

The death toll from Gazipur gas cylinder explosion rose to 5 as two more victims succumbed to their burn injuries at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS) in Dhaka on Sunday.

The deceased are Ariful Islam, 40 and Mohidul Islam, 25. 

Dr Md Tariqul Islam, Resident Physician of the SHNIBPS, said Ariful succumbed to burns in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) around 5 am and Mohidul died around 6:45 am. 

Earlier, three victims - Monsun, 45, Solayman Mollah, 45 and Taiba, 3, died while undergoing treatment at the burn unit. 

On March 13, at least 35 people, including women and children, were injured in a gas cylinder explosion at Telirchala area Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur. Thirty-two of them were admitted to the SHNIBPS in a critical condition. 

Locals said a cooking gas cylinder started leaking at a house of one Shafik Khan in the area. Later, he brought the cylinder to the main door and threw it out on the road, leading to the explosion.