Chattogram blast from ‘gas leak’: Death toll rises to 4 in

The death toll following a blast apparently from a gas leak at Halishahar in Chattogram has risen to four with the death of another victim on Tuesday night.

The deceased was identified as Ashura Akter Pakhi ,30, daughter of Abul Bashar of Rahimnagar village under Kachua police station in Chandpur district.

She succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute  at 10:47 pm on Tuesday.

Assistant Professor Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident physician at the institute, said Pakhi had sustained 100 percent burns.

Earlier, Nurjahan Akter, her son Shawon, and brother-in-law Sumon, who suffered injuries in the blast, died.

Five other victims are receiving treatment at the institute.

Doctors said their condition remains critical.

A fire broke out at their house in Halishahar from accumulated gas,  leaving nine members of the same family injured on Monday night.

The victims were initially admitted to a local hospital and later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Two separate probe bodies have been formed over the blast incident.

Mohammad Jashim Uddin, deputy-director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense, said a five-member committee has been formed to look into the explosion.

Meanwhile,  Kabir Uddin Ahmed, General Manager of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL)  formed a three-member committee to probe the blast, reports UNB.