7 killed in Chattogram ‘gas pipeline’ blast

At least seven people including two of a family, were killed and 15 injured in a “gas pipeline explosion” at a house in Patharghata of Chattogram city this morning, police said.

Four of the deceased were identified as Noor Islam, 30, and Annie Barua, 40, Julha Begum Farzana, 32 and her son Atiqur Rahman, a student of class 2, our Chattogram correspondent reports their respective families.

On information, firefighters rushed to the spot and rescued people who were trapped under the debris, said Purna Chandra Mutsuddi, deputy assistant director (DAD) of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence.

A search and rescue operation is going on at the spot. Photo: Star

The explosion occurred on the ground floor of a five-storey building, owned by Dharma Pal Barua, on Brickfield Road around 8:30am, Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station, told The Daily Star.

Fire service official Purna Chandra Mutsuddi said a major portion of the ground floor was blown off in the explosion.

Around 22 people were rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital where doctors declared seven people death.

Debris lying around the ground after a gas pipeline explosion at a house in Patharghata of Chattogram city. Photo: FM Mizanur/Star

Among the deceased, Nur Islam was a housepainter by profession and was working in the adjacent building when the explosion took place, his wife Sadiya Sultana told The Daily Star.

The couple got married around two and a half years back and have a one-year old daughter, she added.

Meanwhile another deceased Annie Barua was the headmaster of Mehrani Govt Primary School and was crossing the street when the gas pipeline exploded, resulting in her death, the correspondent quoted Annie Barua’s father Engineer Palash Barua as saying.

After visiting the spot, Taffazzal Hossain, inspector of explosives department, said, “The gas riser has become old and it can be a reason behind the gas pipeline leak”.

However, ANM Salah, general manager (marketing) of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDL) said no evidence of gas pipeline leak was found at the house.

“The gas oven and the gas riser are fine. If the incident had occurred due to gas pipeline leak, the gas oven and gas riser would have damaged too,” he said after visiting the scene.

“The incident might take place due to some other reasons. We can confirm the reason after investigation,” he said.