7 killed in Chittagong gas line blast

At least seven people were killed and 20 more others injured in a gas pipeline explosion in Patharghata area of Chittagong city. 

The accident took place on Sunday morning at the Barua Building on Patharghata Brick Field Road in the port city, said Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mohsin.

"We have not yet been able to find out the details in this connection,” said Mohsin. 

Some of the injured were sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, he added.

Chittagong Medical College Hospital Outpost Inspector Zahirul Islam said that seven seriously burnt people were brought to the hospital in the morning. Later, the duty-doctors declared them dead. 

The other 20 people are undergoing treatment at the hospital, he added.

Locals said pedestrians were also injured in the explosion as the boundary wall of the building collapsed on the road. 

In addition, shops on the ground floor of Jasim Building located on the opposite side of the collapsed building were also affected by the explosion.

Deputy Director of the Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defense Purnachandra Mutsuddi visited the spot soon after the incident.

He told the reporters that the gas raiser of the Barua building was located at the bottom of the building nearby the boundary wall. 

There might be a problem with the gas riser of the building; gas might be leaking out of through the leakage. Explosion might be taken place from the burning cigarette butts or it might be happened while cooking at home in the morning, he continued.