All five family members die after Fatullah gas explosion

All five members of a family who sustained severe burn injuries in a gas leak explosion at their rented flat in Narayanganj’s Fatullah have died while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Saima Akhter, 32, the last surviving member of the family, died around 8:40 AM on Friday at the institute, said resident physician Dr Shawon Bin Rahman. She had suffered burns on around 60 percent of her body, including severe injuries to her respiratory tract.

Earlier, Saima’s husband Md Kalam, 35, died on Monday morning with 95 percent burns. Their daughter Kotha, 7, died on Wednesday evening after suffering 52 percent burns.

On Thursday, the couple’s son Munna, 7, died around 9:40 AM with burns on nearly 40 percent of his body, while their daughter Munni, 10, succumbed to her injuries around 12:50 PM after suffering 35 percent burns.

The victims were residents of Barukdia area in Patuakhali’s Bauphal upazila and had been living in a rented ground-floor flat of a multi-storey building in the Uttar Bhuigarh Giridhara area of Fatullah. Kalam worked as a vegetable vendor.

The explosion occurred around dawn on Sunday when accumulated gas inside the flat reportedly ignited. According to Fire Service officials, gas leaking from a kitchen pipeline had filled the room overnight and exploded when a stove or lighter was used.

Locals rescued the injured family members and rushed them to the burn institute in critical condition.

Neighbour Md Hasan said he heard a loud explosion and rushed to the scene, where flames were coming from inside the room.

With Saima’s death, the entire family of five has now perished from the incident.

AM