7 killed and 21 injured in Chattogram gas pipeline explosion
CDA assumes a leakage in the gas pipeline and explosion in the gas riser used in the kitchen may have caused the tragic accident
Seven people were killed and 21 injured in a wall collapse caused by an explosion in gas pipeline in Chattogram's Patharghata area early today.
The explosion occurred on the ground floor of Barua Bhaban in Patharghata's Bricks Field area.
Two walls on the ground floor of the building collapsed due to the explosion. Several people got trapped under the debris.
The reason behind the explosion is still unclear. But a team of the Chattogram Development Authority said a leakage in the gas pipeline and explosion in the gas riser used in the kitchen may have caused the tragic accident.
A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the explosion.
Five of the deceased have been identified as Anny Barua, 38, a teacher of Patia Meher Ali Government Primary School, Nurul Islam, 31, a paint worker, Farzana Islam and her son Atiqur Rahman, and a resident of the building named Prasanta.
Md Yusuf, 40, Abdul Hamid, 31, and Shandhya Rani Devi have been identified among the injured.
Khayez Ahmed Majumdar, managing director of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd, said, "There is no problem in our gas pipeline. I have ordered an inquiry into the incident."
Md Jasim Uddin, deputy assistant director of Agrabad Fire Service and Civil Defence, said, "The gas pipeline was very old. We are investigating if there was any leak or any act of sabotage was involved.
"Two walls of the residential building and a boundary wall adjacent to the road collapsed in the explosion. We have declared risky up to the second floor of the building."
The chief urban planner of the CDA has visited the accident site with a team. After primary investigation, they said the damaged building was installed ignoring the rules. The septic tank of the building has been built occupying the street. The kitchen and the gas riser were placed on its side. The explosion may have been the result of the gas deposited in the septic tank and leak in the gas pipeline.
Manzur Alam, a tea stall owner near the damaged building, said, "I heard the sound of the explosion around 8am and a part of the collapsed wall fell on my stall instantly. A paint worker who was here at that moment died after he was struck by concrete chunk."
Md Mohsin, officer-in-charge of the Kotwali Police Station, said, "We are trying to understand the reason behind the explosion."
Meanwhile, members of the fire service have been working at the explosion site. The residents of the building have been moved to safety. Engineers of the Chattogram Development Authority are also working at the site.
Md Illius Hossen, the deputy commissioner of Chattogram, has visited the area.
"A five-member inquiry committee has been formed with officials from the district administration, the CDA, city corporation, Fire Service, and police. The committee has been ordered to submit a report within a week," said Illius Hossen.
"A compensation of Tk20,000 will be given to each of the families of the deceased. The district administration and the city corporation will bear the expense of the treatment of the injured," he added.
