Bangladesh mosque explosion kills 17
Dhaka, September 5
At least 17 worshippers, including a child, were killed and 20 others injured when a suspected gas leak caused six air conditioners to explode almost simultaneously in a mosque on the outskirts of Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, fire officials said on Saturday.
The explosions took place during prayers at the Baitul Salat mosque in Narayanganj river port town at around 9 pm on Friday. Twenty-five worshippers sustained burn injuries in the blast, according to media reports.
Six ACs blow up after gas leak
The incident took place after six air conditioners exploded due to suspected gas leak
AdvertisementTwenty-five worshippers sustained injuries in the blast. Almost all of them have inhalation burns
While some worshippers died during treatment on Saturday, a minor boy succumbed to his injuries on Friday, said Dr Samantha Lal Sen, chief of state-run Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit — National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
He said 20 others were being treated at the unit, but their condition was “very critical” as the burn caused more than 90 per cent damage to their bodies. Almost all of them have inhalation burns, he said.
Fire officials suspect accumulated gas from a leaked pipeline caused a fire that might have triggered the air conditioners to explode.
“A pipeline of Titas Gas passes beneath the mosque. We are suspecting that gas leaked from the pipeline and accumulated inside as the windows were closed. The explosion was probably triggered due to sparks when someone tried to switch on or off the ACs or fans,” Narayanganj Fire Service’s Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Al Arefin said. — PTI
