Dhaka, Mar 18 – At least five people, including a woman and her son, were killed and 20 others injured in a devastating fire caused by lightning strike on a gas riser at a housing colony in Golapganj upazila of Bangladesh’s northeastern district of Sylhet early Sunday.The deceased were identified as Taskima Begum, 32, wife of Bablu Miah, hailing from Moglabazar Khalermukh village of South Surma upazila, their two-year-old son Tahmid, Sebul, 18, employee of Bablu, Jihad, 20, and Shebu Begum, 22, wife of Machhkandar Ali, hailing from Ponairchak village in the same upazila.
Both the women were pregnant, said family sources.
The fire broke out at a room of the semi pacca house of the colony in Lakkhanabanda area around 3am and soon engulfed other rooms where two families were living, said fire service sources.
Dinomoni Sharma, deputy assistant director of Sylhet Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the fire originated from gas riser that was exploded by a lightning strike. Five people who were asleep in the house were burnt alive.
On information, two units of firefighters rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control after three hours’ frantic efforts, said AKM Fazlul Haque Sibly, officer-in-charge of Golapganj Police Station.
Firefighters recovered five bodies from the colony.
At least 20 people sustained injuries in the fire. Bablu Ahmed, a prickle vendor, was admitted to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital while others were taken to Golapganj Upazila Health Complex. – UNB
