At least seven people, including a child, were burnt in a gas balloon explosion at Godagari upazila in Rajshahi on Friday morning.
The incident occurred around 11:15am in Kalipur area when an auto-rickshaw carrying a bundle of about 40 gas balloons exploded.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang as the balloons burst into flames, setting the passengers on fire.
Five of the injured were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
They are Md Razikul, 65, of Matikata village and Mst Jolsori, 27, of Sahapaniya village under Godagari upazila, Md Ekramul, 44, of Hazrapukur village, and Md Rony, 20, of Purapara village under Niamatpur upazila in Naogaon, and Hamim, 13, of Sonamosjid area under Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj.
Two other individuals, Mst Sakhina, 35, from Boidyapur village under Tanore upazila, and Md Raihan, 32, from Fazilpur village under Godagari municipality area, were released after receiving first aid at Godagari Upazila Health Complex, said the hospital鈥檚 senior staff nurse Abdul Salam.
Senior nurse Abdus Salam said that the seven injured were rushed to the upazila health complex, from where they referred five of them to RMCH for better treatment, while Sakhina and Raihan were given first aid.
Afroza Naznin, head of the RMCH burn unit, said that Roni sustained 24 per cent burns along with airway damage, Jolsori 10 per cent burns and airway injuries, Hamim 14 per cent burns, Razikul 6 per cent burns on both hands, and Ekramul 1 per cent burns.
Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Godagari Model Police, said he heard about the explosion and they were yet to know how the explosion occurred.
