Burn victim uncle, niece die

An uncle and his eight-year-old niece have died from burn injuries sustained in a gas leak explosion at a house in the Notun Bazar area under Bhatara Police Station in the capital. 

The man's wife remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at a residence in the 100 Feet area of Notun Bazar. The victims were identified as Md Shahin, 24, and his niece Hafsa, 8. Shahin's wife, Fahima Akter, 21, is battling for her life with severe burn injuries.

Dr Shaon Bin Rahman, resident physician at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said that Hafsa and Shahin died while undergoing treatment about six hours apart.

Hafsa died at the institute's ICU on Thursday night, while Shahin succumbed to his injuries early Friday at the same ICU.

Doctors said that Fahima, who suffered burns to 45 percent of her body, remains in critical condition in the ICU.

Dr Shaon further said that three burn victims were brought to the institute after the explosion caused by a gas line leak at a house in the Bhatara area. Shahin had sustained burns over 50 percent of his body, while Hafsa suffered burns to 40 percent of her body.

Neighbour Md Jasim, who helped take the victims to the hospital, said that Shahin worked as an employee at a local shop and lived with his family on the ground floor of a six-storey building. According to him, a loud explosion occurred at dawn after gas leaked from the household gas line.