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Seven passengers of a battery-run rickshaw have suffered burns in a gas balloon explosion in Rajshahi’s Godagari Upazila, with five of them in critical condition.
The explosion occurred around 11:30am on Friday in the Kalipur area, said Godagari Police chief Moazzem Hossain.
Five of the injured have been admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
They are Rakibul Islam, 65, and Jalsori, 35, Hamim Ali, 17, Ekramul Haque, 54, and Rony Ahmed, 22.
Two others, identified with single names as Sakhina and Raihan, received primary treatment locally and returned home.
Officer Moazzem said about 40 gas balloons were tied to the back of the rickshaw travelling from Godagari towards Amanura.
The balloons were being taken to Safina Park in Godagari for sale.
“As the vehicle reached the Kalipur area, the balloons suddenly exploded, setting the rickskaw on fire and burning the passengers,” he added.
Locals rescued the seven injured and took them to Godagari Upazila Health Complex.
Five of them, who were critically injured, were later transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
Hospital’s spokesperson Shankar K Biswas said, “The injured have been admitted to Ward No. 29 of the burn unit. Different parts of their bodies are burnt, and treatment is ongoing.
“However, it is too early to comment on their physical condition,” he added.