21 injured by gas balloon blast in Gazipur

At least 21 people suffered burn injuries from a gas balloon explosion while preparing to join an election campaign of BNP candidate for Gazipur-2 constituency, Manjurul Karim Rony, in Tongi of Gazipur on Monday.

Dr Shawon bin Rahman, a surgeon at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said three of the injured were put under observation, and the rest were discharged following first aid treatment.

The injured were aged 11-38 years and had suffered 1-12% burn injuries, Dr Shawon added.

The injured were identified as Anik, 27, Hasu, 28, Hasnat, 18, Hasnat, 22, Akash, 28, Ramjan, 18, Rafi, 12, Bijoy, 16, Tasin, 18, Siam, 16, Minhaz, 17, Nuru, 18, Shaon, 20, Imam, 14, Nirjan, 22, Maruf, 22, Rubel, 34 and Rabbi, 13.

Md Shahin Alam, officer-in-charge of Tongi West Police Station, said the explosion occurred at the local BNP election office near Main Road of Tongi Bazar when some gas balloons kept inside the office exploded with a big bang around 4pm.

All of them were set to go for an election campaign, said police.

Md Rabiul Islam, a supporter of Manjurul Karim, said the balloons exploded when BNP activists were bringing them out of the office in a hurry. Some of the injured said they thought the balloons to be normal air balloons and thus did not take additional precaution while moving these.

The activists were set to join the election rally of Manjurul Karim in Cherag Ali, Tongi, said Md Rabiul Islam.

The injured were taken to Tongi Government Hospital. Later, they were shifted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment around 6:15pm.