Two people were killed and another one was seriously injured when an oil tanker exploded at Kuchai area of Dakshin Surma in Sylhet on Thursday noon.
The incident took place in front of Kuchai's Maa Engineering Workshop. The deceased were identified as Kamar Uddin, 35, owner of Maa Engineering and Monir Uddin, 50, driver of the oil truck. The injured truck driver’s assistant Kawsar Ahmed has been admitted to Osmani Medical College Hospital.
The bodies of the deceased have been kept in the morgue of Osmani Medical College hospital. A fire service unit from Alampur rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. Police and fire service members rescued the victims and sent them to Osmani Hospital.
Citing Kawsar, who was injured in the blast, police said an oil truck of Padma Oil Company was taken to Maa Engineering Workshop for welding. At that time, the driver and owner got into the engine for repairs and Kawsar took up position on top of the lorry.
When the engine of the lorry exploded with a loud noise, one of them fell out and the other got stuck inside the engine, said Officer-in-Charge of Moglabazar Police Station Akhter Hossain. He added, the accident might have been caused by an electrical short circuit while welding.
