At least seven people were injured as a gas cylinder of a warehouse exploded in Khagrachhari district town early yesterday, police said. 

In the blast, the warehouse walls and nearby shops were damaged in Khabongpuria area.

Of the injured, five are warehouse workers and two others are a shopkeeper and his wife.

The injured were first admitted to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital. Later, four of them were referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Urmi Chakma, owner of a shop beside the warehouse, said she went to the shop from her house after hearing a loud bang.

Her shop was completely destroyed in the blast, she added.

Mohi Ranjan Chakma, a shopkeeper who was hurt in the blast, said usually workers did not stay in the warehouse at night. But he heard somebody working in the warehouse on Monday night. 

Around 4:45am, a warehouse wall suddenly fell on his shop where he and his wife were sleeping, leaving them wounded, Mohi said while talking to this correspondent at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital.

Injured Newton Chakma, a warehouse worker, said he was asleep when the incident took place.

“I did not know how the explosion happened as I was sleeping. I woke up when I felt flames on my body,” said Newton, who suffered burn injuries to his face and hands.  

Abdul Kader, station officer at Khagrachhari fire service, said the reason behind the blast could not be known immediately.

Sanwar Hossain, sub-inspector of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station, said they were investigating the incident.

Warehouse owner Canton Chakma has been called for interrogation, said Shahadat Hossain Tito, officer-in-charge of the police station.