Staff Reporter:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain yesterday visited the victims who sustained burn injuries in a gas explosion at a house in Fatullah of Narayanganj.
The minister went to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around noon and inquired about the treatment of the injured victims, including a husband, wife and their children. He also spoke to the family members.
Talking to reporters after the visit, the minister said the fire erupted when the house owner attempted to ignite a gas light, causing flames to spread throughout the house.
“The entire family suffered burn injuries in the incident. It is very tragic and painful,” he said.
He said five people, including a child, were burned in the explosion. The doors and windows of the house were reportedly closed at the time of the incident, he added.
The minister said all-out efforts were made to ensure proper treatment of the victims and financial assis-tance would also be provided, if needed.
Highlighting the lack of public awareness regarding gas safety, he said the government had repeatedly urged the people through media campaigns to keep gas cylinders outside their homes and regularly check the leakages, if any.
He advised people to keep doors and windows open before lighting gas stoves and urged users of pipe-line gas connections to ensure proper checking of leakages during installation.
Sakhawat Hossain also said an inter-ministerial meeting would be held within the next few days to strengthen public awareness initiatives on gas safety.
He further warned that many families keep gas cylinders beneath their stoves despite repeated awareness campaigns.
He also urged the people to have cylinders and gas lines checked regularly by companies concerned.
