A couple sustained severe burns in a gas leak explosion in Dhamrai, Dhaka, and have been admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital.
The explosion occurred around 11:45pm on Friday in a rented house owned by Kubbat Hossain in the Kumrail area of Dhamrai municipality.
The injured have been identified as Asif, 24, from Mirzapur upazila in Tangail, and his wife Shanta, 21. They had been living in a rented room in Kumrail, with Asif working as a rickshaw puller and Shanta employed in a factory.
According to the fire service, police, and local residents, a loud explosion was heard from a ground-floor room of a two-storey building around 11:45pm. Flames quickly engulfed the room, and moments later, the burnt couple staggered outside, their bodies covered in burns. Neighbours rushed to extinguish the fire and assist the victims.
Preliminary findings suggest that despite having a Titas gas connection in the house, the couple was using a gas cylinder. While the cylinder remained intact, the gas pipe was found burned, indicating a possible leakage. Several adjacent rooms sustained damage due to the blast.
Rajab Ali, another tenant in the house, said: "There was a loud explosion around 11:30pm. I rushed out and saw the fire. The couple managed to come out of their room, but their bodies were badly burned. We took them to the hospital in a rickshaw. It seemed like a gas explosion started the fire."
Local resident Sajib Hossain recalled: "I heard a loud noise and ran outside. Smoke was coming from the room. Shanta opened the door first — her hair was burnt and falling off. A neighbour helped her. Then her husband came out — his hair and skin were completely burned. Neighbors rushed in to douse the flames."
Dhamrai police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Shamim said: "When I reached the scene, I saw severe damage to the house. The injured couple was no longer there as they had been taken to the hospital. Initial findings suggest the explosion was caused by a gas leak."
Dhamrai Fire Service leader Zahirul Islam confirmed: "A husband and wife suffered severe burns and have been taken to the burn unit in Dhaka. The gas cylinder was found intact."
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the explosion.
