10 burnt in Ctg gas cylinder blasts

At least 10 people sustained burn injuries in gas cylinder explosions at a warehouse in Charpara area, on the border of Chandanaish and Satkania upazilas in Chattogram, early yesterday.

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, a massive fire was triggered around 6:50am when a worker dropped a cigarette, setting off powerful explosions.

The injured were: warehouse owner Mahbubur Rahman, 45; Md Saurabh Rahman, 25; Mohammad Liton, 28; Mohammad Yunus, 26; Mohammad Akib, 17; Md Harun 29; Mohammad Idris, 30; Mohammad Kafil, 22; Mohammad Riyaz, 17; and Mohammad Saleh, 33.

All of them were rushed to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Contacted, Dr S Khaled, associate professor of the burn unit at CMCH, said all the 10 injured admitted to the ward were in critical condition as their respiratory tracts were burnt.

They sustained 20-70 percent burns to their bodies in the explosions and fire.

Firefighters from Chandanaish Fire Station brought the under control after more than two hours of frantic effort at around 9:00am.

Sub-Inspector Md Alauddin of CMCH police camp said the warehouse contained over 300 gas cylinders. Authorities are investigating the full extent of damage, he added.