Gas cylinder explosions in Hatia burn five shops, house

Five shops and a house have been gutted after a fire broke out at a biryani shop in Noakhali’s Hatia following gas cylinder explosions.

The blaze erupted at Rakib’s Biryani House in Sagarika Bazar around 9pm on Monday, said Jashim Uddin Chowdhury, station officer of Hatia Fire Service and Civil Defence.

He said, citing witnesses, that a gas cylinder caught fire inside the restaurant, prompting everyone there to rush out.

The cylinder later exploded, followed by two more cylinders kept inside the restaurant.

The fire quickly spread to nearby shops, gutting a hotel, a bookshop, a clothing shop, a shoe shop, a cosmetics shop and a house.

A Fire Service unit brought the blaze under control after about 90 minutes, Jashim said.

According him, the initial damage is estimated at Tk 8 million.