Man Dies After Transformer Explosion Injuries

A man who suffered severe burn injuries following a transformer explosion in Gazipur’s Sreepur upazila has died while undergoing treatment in Dhaka. The victim, Md Yasin, 35, succumbed to his injuries on Friday afternoon at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital after fighting for his life for nearly 34 hours.

Yasin was a resident of Kachina village in Birunia union of Bhaluka upazila, located in Mymensingh district. He was the son of Ali Hossain. According to hospital authorities and police sources, he had sustained extensive burns in the explosion and remained in critical condition from the time he was admitted to the specialised burn treatment facility.

The incident occurred late on Wednesday night at around 11:00 pm at Mawna Chowrasta, one of the busiest commercial intersections in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district. A power distribution transformer installed in front of the Shahid Super View building suddenly exploded, sending sparks and flames into the surrounding area.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud blast followed by a shower of burning sparks that scattered across nearby buildings, shopfronts and the adjacent road. The sudden explosion triggered panic among pedestrians, shopkeepers and motorists present at the time. Several people attempted to move away from the area as the flames briefly spread around the transformer installation.

At least four people who were standing near the site were burned in the incident. The injured were identified as Md Yasin, Zakir Hossain, Rakibul Islam and another individual whose identity could not immediately be confirmed. Local residents and passers-by quickly rushed the victims to nearby medical facilities.

Given the severity of their injuries, three of the victims were later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for specialised treatment. Among them, Yasin’s condition was reported to be the most critical, with significant portions of his body affected by burns.

Despite continuous medical care and monitoring by specialists, he eventually died from his injuries on Friday.

Sub-Inspector Mahmudul Hasan of Shahbagh Police Station confirmed the development, stating that Yasin’s body was formally received from the hospital on Friday night. He added that further legal procedures would be carried out in accordance with the wishes of the victim’s family.

Local residents have raised concerns about the safety of electrical infrastructure in densely populated commercial areas such as Mawna Chowrasta. They noted that ageing transformers, excessive electrical loads and irregular maintenance can increase the risk of such dangerous incidents.

Electrical engineers often warn that transformer explosions may occur due to technical faults, insulation failure, overheating, or overload in power distribution systems. Regular inspection and maintenance of such equipment are therefore considered essential to prevent accidents in crowded urban and semi-urban locations.

Below is a summary of the key details of the incident:

Authorities are expected to review the circumstances surrounding the explosion, while residents have urged power distribution agencies to strengthen monitoring and safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.