At least two workers were killed and three others injured today as a gas cylinder exploded on a vessel at a dockyard in Shikalbaha area of Karnaphuli upazila in Chittagong.

The deceased were identified as Md Rashed, 23 and Masum, 21. The details of the deceased could not be known immediately, reports our Chittagong correspondent.

“The incident took place at around 11:30am when repairing work was going on in a vessel named Desh-1 at the ‘Ocean Dockyard’ in Shikalbaha,” said Assistant Commissioner (AC) Jahedul Islam of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) (Karnaphuli Zone).

“Five workers were removing rust from the vessel with the help of a gas cylinder when suddenly the cylinder exploded, leaving two dead on the spot and three others injured,” AC Jahed said.

“On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies,” he added.

“Masum’s body was recovered from the Karnaphuli River while the body of Rashed was found inside the ship following the explosion,” Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdul Matin of Karnaphuli Police Station told our correspondent.

The injured were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for treatment, he added.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Alauddin Talukdar of CMCH Police outpost said one of the injured, Kamrul, 28, sustained burn injuries from the explosion and has been admitted to CMCH’s Burn and Plastic Surgery unit.

Another worker, Amzad, 30, got injured as he jumped off from the ship to save himself, the ASI added.