6 injured in blast from gas leak

Six people were injured as an explosion caused by gas leak ripped through the Jalalabad Central Bus Terminal in Sylhet yesterday.

Three vehicles -- a car, a microbus and a motorcycle -- were burned in the fire that erupted around 12:00noon.

The injured, whose identities could not be known immediately, were rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital. The condition of two was stated to be critical, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner (South) Zedan Al Musa.

Witnesses said they heard a loud bang and saw fire erupting out of the ground.

They added the explosion was caused by gas leak and put the blame on the state-run Jalalabad Gas Transmission & Distribution System Ltd.

The fire raged for about two hours until the Fire Service and Civil Defence controlled it.

Musa said the blast was caused by big leak in the gas supply line of the city.

Three units of firefighters brought the fire under control around 2:15pm after two hours of frantic efforts, he added.

Nurul Islam, team leader of the firefighters, alleged that the authorities of Jalalabad Gas had delayed in their response, making it difficult for them to control the situation earlier.

After the gas authorities had shut off the main connection, they controlled the fire, he added.

The manager of South Surma of Jalalabad gas did not receive any call despite repeated attempts.