Gazipur gas cylinder blast: Death toll reaches 16

The death toll from Gazipur gas cylinder explosion rose to 16 as another victim succumbed to his burn injuries at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS) in Dhaka early Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Lalon, 24, son of Moynal Haque of Betua village at Kazipur upazila in Sirajganj. 

Dr Md Tariqul Islam, Resident Physician of the SHNIBPS, said Lalon breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) around 3am. He suffered 45 percent burn injuries. 

Earlier, the victims who died at the burn unit were identified as Solayman Mollah, Monsur Ali, Taiba, Ariful Islam, Mohidul, Nargis Khatun, Jahirul Islam, Motaleb, Solayman, Rabbi, Tawhid, Yeasin Arafat, Moshiur Rahman, Kamala Khatun and Nadim. 

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.