Gazipur cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 17

The death toll from the gas cylinder blast in Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila rose to 17 as another burn victim died early Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Kuddus Khan 45, son of Suruj Ali of Kaliakair upazila.

Kuddus, who had suffered 80 percent burns, breathed his last around 4 am at the ICU of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Tariqul Islam, resident medical officer of the hospital.

Currently, seven to eight more victims are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The condition of those is stated to be critical.

At least 35 people, including women and children, sustained burn injuries after a gas cylinder exploded in Kaliakair on March 13.

One patient was admitted with 100 percent burns, while three were hospitalised with 95 percent burns, and 16 were hospitalised with over 50 percent burns.

Locals said a fire broke out from a leaking gas cylinder at a house in Telir Chala area of Mouchak in Kaliakair around 6pm on March 13, right before iftar (it was the second day of Ramadan).

When residents of the house threw it out on the road, the explosion occurred.

At the time, the road was bustling with people from all walks of life. Several bystanders and passers-by who had nothing to do with the house where the cylinder leaked were among the injured.