Fourteen injured receiving treatment

The death toll from a cylinder blast in Gazipur last week has risen to 14 with another injured succumbing to her injuries.

Kamala Khatun, 65, died while undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at 4:25am on Wednesday.

Dr Tarikul Islam, resident physician at the hospital, said 80% of the surface area of her body had been burnt.

Fourteen people in the explosion, including Kamala’s grandson-in-law Lalon, are receiving treatment, there.

Sequence of events

In Gazipur's Kaliakair area, a gas cylinder explosion just before iftar on March 13 left at least 32 individuals injured, with 14 sustaining severe burns exceeding 80% of the surface area of their bodies.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:45pm in the Mouchak Tilerchala locality.

According to eyewitnesses, a family discovered a gas leak in their kitchen cylinder. Despite attempting to contain it by wrapping the cylinder in a wet cloth, they failed, leading them to place it in an alley beside the road, according to media reports.

The sound of the leaking gas attracted nearby residents, including women and children, who gathered out of curiosity.

The street was buzzing with activity as many, including garment factory workers, were heading home for iftar, just before sunset.

Unbeknownst to the crowd, the gas began to disperse into the air.

An attempt to ignite a stove in a house nearby ignited the dispersed gas, igniting a fire that engulfed bystanders and spread.

Victims were rushed to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for urgent medical attention.