Child killed, 4 injured in Savar wall collapse

A one-and-half-year-old child was killed, while four people were injured after major portions of a wall collapsed on them following a gas explosion at their house in Savar yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Tahsin, son of Nazmul Hasan.

The accident happened in a one-storey building at Kathgora in Ashulia immediately after the child’s mother had rubbed a matchstick to light a gas stove in the morning, fire service quoted the victims as saying.

Zahangir Alom, senior officer of DEPZ fire station, said a sudden fire originating from accumulated gas might have caused the explosion in gas pipeline and subsequent wall collapse.

Tahsin died on the spot. The injured -- Mim Akter, 4; Mousumi Akter, 22; Abul Kalam, 35; and Dipu Miah, 24 -- were taken to Centre for Woman and Child Health in Savar.

Of the injured, Mim and Mousumi are relatives of the house owner, Akbar Hossain, while the other two are uncles of the deceased.

Rejaul Haque, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station, also confirmed the incident.