Ashulia gas cylinder explosion death toll rises to 8

The death toll from a massive explosion and fire at a gas cylinder-laden vehicle in Ashulia has risen to eight, with several victims yet to be identified.

The explosion took place around 6:45pm Sunday while gas cylinders were being unloaded from a covered van at the premises of Priti Composite Textile Ltd in Jamgora, Savar.

The latest victim was Nazrul Islam, 30, a roadside vendor who sold onions, garlic and other produce outside the factory.

Nazrul was critically injured in the blast and died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 10:30pm, said police camp Inspector Md Habibur Rahman.

Three others injured in the incident are receiving treatment at DMCH. They are vendors Sujon Mia, 25, and his father Mokhles Mia, 45, and covered-van driver Nur Islam, 30. Nur suffered burns to multiple parts of his body and was admitted to the hospital’s burn unit in critical condition.

Fire Service officials said six people died at the scene. After bringing the fire under control around 10:30pm, firefighters searched the damaged vehicles and recovered five severely burned bodies from inside a covered van. Their identities could not immediately be established.

Relatives have identified two other victims as Salma Akter and Bulbul, although authorities are still working to confirm their identities.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and working to establish the identities of all the victims.