Ashulia, Sep 20 (V7N)- At least seven people were killed and around 20 others injured after a massive explosion involving a covered van loaded with gas cylinders triggered a fire at a garment factory complex in Ashulia, Savar, on Sunday evening.

The incident occurred around 6:45pm at the premises of a Pretty Group garment factory in the Jamgara area of Ashulia.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the explosion occurred while gas cylinders were being unloaded from the covered van for use at the factory. Several cylinders subsequently exploded, causing a major fire and damaging the factory building.

The blast shattered windowpanes of the factory and flames spread to five or six vehicles parked nearby. The cylinder-laden van was also badly damaged in the fire.

One of the deceased was identified as 55-year-old Zainab, wife of Mohammad Ali from Kashimpur in Gazipur. Police said the identities of the other victims had not immediately been established.

According to eyewitnesses, Zainab was standing at a tailoring shop around 200 yards from the factory premises, where her daughter Sanjida Akter worked. A cylinder reportedly flew from the factory during the explosion, pierced the tin roof of the shop and struck Zainab, killing her. Several others at the location were also injured.

Somen Barua, warehouse inspector of the DEPZ Fire Service, said the fire started while gas cylinders were being unloaded for factory use. Several Fire Service units responded to the incident and brought the blaze under control.

Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Ashulia Industrial Police-1, said the woman was killed after being struck by a cylinder thrown some distance by the force of the explosion.

Later, around 11:15pm, Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Tarikul Islam said police recovered the bodies of five more people from inside the covered van involved in the incident.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion while efforts are underway to identify the deceased and provide treatment to those injured in the incident.

END/SMA/AJ