A deadly explosion at a CNG filling station in Mymensingh city has left three people dead and caused a gas leak that is still a risk to the area.
To ensure public safety, local authorities have banned all vehicles and people from entering a 500-meter zone around the site.
The explosion happened on Monday afternoon, and the district administration issued a notice late that night, saying gas is still leaking from the site.
This puts the area at risk of more accidents. The notice said that no one should enter the 500-meter zone until further notice.
Earlier, at about 2:45 PM, a gas leak led to an explosion at the Azhar Filling Station, which is located near the Rahmatpur bypass area on the Mymensingh-Tangail road.
The explosion happened while gas was being filled into an auto-rickshaw, which then caught fire.
The fire destroyed seven vehicles, including a private car and three CNG auto-rickshaws.
Firefighters worked for two hours to put out the flames. Mohammad Moazzal Hossain, Deputy Assistant Director of the Fire Service in Mymensingh, said they believe the explosion was caused by a gas leak while fueling the auto-rickshaw.
The body of the private car driver was found at the scene.
The two people who died at the scene were Mohammad Himel (26), a private car driver from Kismat village, and Abdul Quddus (85) from Rahmatpur.
Himel died instantly, while Quddus passed away from his injuries later at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Five other people were injured in the explosion and fire. Three of them were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and two others were treated at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Shafiqul Islam Khan, the Officer-in-Charge of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station, said the bodies have been sent for an autopsy, and police are investigating the incident.
After the explosion, the district administration formed a three-member investigation team led by Lutfunahar Nahar, the Additional District Magistrate.
The team has been asked to submit a report in three days.
Read More: Two killed, six injured in Mymensingh filling station fire
Death Toll Increases to Three
The death toll from the explosion has now risen to three.
Toffajjal Hossain (45), who was badly burned in the fire, died while being taken to Dhaka for treatment.
Toffajjal, a resident of Nijkolpa village, passed away at 11 PM on Monday night.
Several other injured people are still being treated.
They include Abul Hossain (45), Abdul Malek (50), Mohammad Kamrul (32), and his wife, Sumi Akter (30), who are in critical condition at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.
Additionally, two auto-rickshaw drivers, Mohammad Abul Hashem (35) and Anwar Hossain (25), are being treated at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam Khan confirmed that the death toll has now reached three.
As of 11 AM today, gas was still leaking at the site, and both police and fire service teams were still working to ensure safety in the area.
