A gas cylinder explosion at a filling station in Lakshmipur has claimed the lives of three individuals and left at least 20 others severely injured, with 10 reported to be in critical condition, according to medical authorities.
The incident occurred around 2am on Monday (14 October), at the Green Life Filling Station located in the Muktiganj area of Lakshmipur municipality.
Ranjit Kumar, the station officer of Lakshmipur Fire Service, said that a substandard gas cylinder in the bus was the cause of the explosion during refuelling.
"Upon receiving the report, we quickly arrived at the scene to recover the bodies and transport the injured to the hospital. The cylinder in question was of poor quality, leading to the blast," he added.
Dr Joynal Abedin, the attending physician at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, stated, "Three individuals were already dead when they arrived. We had no opportunity to provide medical care. Around 20 individuals are injured, of whom 10 are in critical condition, with some suffering partial amputations and severe burns. Most of the critically injured have been transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment."
Panic swept through the area following the blast.
The deceased have been identified as Md Sujan, son of Batumiah of Char Monsa, Bhabaniganj Union; Md Yusuf Mia, son of Suzamiah of Banchanagar; and Hridoy Hossain.
All three were drivers of CNG-powered auto-rickshaws.
Among the injured are Suman Hossain, Md Rocky, Mohammad Fahad Hossain, Siraj Mia, Md Hridoy, Shanto Khan, and Abdul Malek, along with 13 others.
Due to the severity of their injuries, 10 of the victims have been transferred to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, while the remainder are receiving treatment at Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital. The injured are reported to be drivers of buses and CNGs.
Eyewitnesses report that a Meghna Paribahan bus travelling the Lakshmipur-Ramgati route had arrived at the Green Life Filling Station for gas refuelling when its gas cylinder suddenly exploded.
The explosion caused panic among the CNG drivers present at the station, leading to the deaths of three drivers at the scene and injuring 20 others.
Fire service teams, along with police units, promptly arrived at the site to recover the bodies of the deceased and transport them to the Sadar Hospital morgue.
The injured were initially admitted to Lakshmipur Sadar Hospital, and later, those in critical condition were sent to Dhaka for advanced medical care.
