-- Gas line leak causes explosion

-- Condition of 2 victims critical

Five members of a family suffered burn injuries in a fire that broke out due to gas line explosion at a house in Purba Ashkona area of Dhaka early today.

The victims -- Rehana Khatun, her daughter Farzana Akhter and sons Rezwan Shuvo and Tanvir and their domestic help Shakhina -- were rushed to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mozammel Haque, in-charge of the hospital's police camp, told The Daily Star.

The fire broke out at the two-storey building when Shakhina lighted the gas burner around 5:30am, Mozammel added.

The explosion took place as there was a leak in the gas pipe line, police said.

Condition of three victims -- Rehana, Shakhina and Tanvir -- is critical as they sustained severe burn injuries, said Partha Sangkar Paul, residential surgeon of the burn unit.