AC explosion in Bangladesh mosque claims 24 lives
NEW DELHI | SEPT 06, 2020:
Six air conditioners exploded during prayers in a mosque in Bangladesh's Fatullah town resulting in the deaths of 24 people, resident medical officer of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery Dr Partha Shankar Pal said.
Over 50 people were injured in the incident, he said.
According to residents of Fatullah, the explosions took place around 8:45 pm on Friday at Baitus Salam Mosque just after devotees had finished their prayers.
Sources said that the explosions were caused because of gas leakage in the pipelines.
Doctors informed that 27 victims are in a critical condition and that some of them including the mosque's 'Imam' suffered 99 per cent burn injuries.
Fire service officials and gas workers are now at the scene repairing a faulty gas line which caused the mishap.
The president of the mosque committee, Abdul Gafur accused the local staff of Titas Gas Transmission & Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL), of demanding a bribe of 50,000 taka to resolve a gas leakage under the mosque building.
"Stern action will be taken if the negligence of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company (TGTDCL) is found in connection with the Narayanganj mosque blast," Bangladesh State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said
A five-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the blast and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed hospitals to provide the best treatment to the injured.
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