At least six children were killed and more than fifteen others were injured in a gas cylinder explosion in Rupnagar of Mirpur area in the capital on Wednesday.
Local sources said the deceased were primarily identified as Ramjan, 8, Nupur 7, Shaheen 9 and Fazana 9. Body of another child could not be identified immediately.
However, death toll may rise as the condition of some of the inured victims were described to be very critical.
Among the injured, Jannat, Jubayer, Sadequr, Nahid, Jamil, Mariyom were rushed to be admitted in critical condition to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Inspector Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge (OC) of Rupnagar police station confirmed about the incident.
He said the deadly explosion from a gas balloon cylendar took place at around 3 in the afternoon near Monirpur School Wednesday afternoon. Most of the victims were inhabitants of nearby slums, he added.
Russel Shikder, duty officer at the control room of Fire Service and Civil Defense said that four fire-fighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire by 3:45pm.
Local police said the injured were rescued and taken to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). Police were unable to disclose any further information. Senior officials visited the spot.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Information Dr Murad Hasan visited the injured at Shaheed Suhrawardi Medical College Hospital. He assured to give financial compensations to the victims and their family members.
Asked about occurences of such incidents, the minister said, “We shall discuss in the cabinet whether the existing policy in this regard are being implemented.”