DHAKA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- One boy died and dozens of others suffered serious burn injuries after air conditioners of a masjid in Narayanganj on the outskirts of Bangladesh capital Dhaka burst Friday night, an official said early Saturday.

Samanta Lal Sen, the coordinator of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, told journalists that a 7-year-old boy died after being admitted with 95 percent burns.

Apart from the boy, he said at least 37 injured have been rushed to the institute with major burns on their bodies.

Most of the victims are suffering from 60 to 70 percent burns, he added, and the health condition of them is becoming critical.

Fire officials suspected a gas leak caused the horrendous incident which occurred when the Muslim worshippers were about to leave the masjid after their Isha (night) prayers at around 9:00 p.m. local time Friday night.

All eight air-conditioners on the ground floor burst into flames when there were reportedly around 100 worshippers at the three-storey masjid.

Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj, said huge blasts caused window glasses of the masjid fly onto the street and burnt ceiling fans, wires and electric switch boards.

Kamrul Ahsan, a control room official at the fire service headquarters in Dhaka, said firemen managed to bring the flames under control after hectic efforts of around half an hour.

The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense formed a committee to investigate the incident. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)