Three passengers died and at least nine others sustained burn injuries when a microbus gas cylinder exploded on the Dhaka-Bogura highway at around 7:30am in Sherpur upazila of Bogura on Wednesday.
Sherpur Fire Service Warehouse Inspector Bakhtiar Uddin confirmed the matter. The deceased have been identified as Shiuly Begum, 48, Tayeba Khatun, 35, and the microbus driver, Rintu, 47.
The injured individuals are Fatema, 10, Shahidul, 40, Tousib, 30, Tasmia, 20, Helena, 60, Tarikul, 36, Fatema, 2, Arham, 7, and Hamim, 30.
According to local sources, the passenger-laden microbus was heading towards northern district for the Eid holidays. Upon reaching the Shonka area, the vehicle’s gas cylinder suddenly exploded with a loud bang, and the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames within moments.
Eyewitnesses reported that the intensity of the fire was so severe that many passengers did not have the opportunity to escape the vehicle. The driver, Rintu, died on the spot.
Upon receiving the news, a team from the Sherpur Fire Service rushed to the scene, brought the fire under control, and rescued the injured, who were then sent to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
Sherpur Highway Police Camp In-charge Rokon Uddin confirmed that two more people died after being taken to the hospital, bringing the death toll to three. He also said the bodies will be handed over to relatives after legal procedures.
