Three members of the same family sustained severe burn injuries following the explosion of an air conditioner cylinder at their residence in the Narinda Kachabazar area of Old Dhaka on Thursday night.
The victims — Mukhtar Bepari, 55, his wife Selina Begum, 45, and their son Selim, 30 — were initially rescued by neighbours and rushed to the emergency department before being admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. They were later transferred to the specialised facilities of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for intensive treatment.
According to police sources, the explosion occurred when the cylinder of an air conditioning unit inside the house suddenly burst, triggering a fire that rapidly engulfed parts of the residence. The force of the blast was so powerful that a section of the building’s wall collapsed and debris was hurled onto an adjacent tin-roofed structure. The falling masonry tore through the metal roofing and injured a woman inside the neighbouring property. Her condition has not yet been officially disclosed.
Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, Residential Surgeon at the Burn Institute, confirmed that the three family members remain in critical condition. Medical assessments indicate that Mukhtar Bepari suffered burns to 22 per cent of his body, Selina Begum to 20 per cent, while Selim sustained burns over his entire body — amounting to 100 per cent — placing him in an extremely precarious state.
The Officer-in-Charge of Wari Police Station, Mohammad Mofizur Rahman, stated that an initial inquiry suggests the explosion originated from the air conditioner’s cylinder. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was caused by a mechanical fault, gas leakage, or improper maintenance.
Summary of the Victims’ Conditions
| Name | Age | Percentage of Burns | Current Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mukhtar Bepari | 55 | 22% | Critical |
| Selina Begum | 45 | 20% | Critical |
| Selim | 30 | 100% | Extremely critical |
Local residents described scenes of panic and chaos immediately after the explosion, with thick smoke billowing into the narrow lanes of the densely populated neighbourhood. Fire safety experts note that poorly maintained cooling units and faulty gas cylinders can pose significant risks, particularly in tightly built urban areas such as Old Dhaka.
Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have urged residents to ensure regular servicing of electrical appliances to prevent similar tragedies.