Four people, including two children, were injured in an explosion at a residence in the Jigatola area of Hazaribagh, Dhaka, while a tenant was cleaning the water tank on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred at the two-storey home of leather trader Zia Uddin (45), near the Tannery Intersection around 4:00 p.m. The injured include Zia, his daughters Nazia Sultana Rafia (8) and Faria Sultana (3), and tenant Belal Hossain (30), a day labourer.

According to Zia’s nephew, HM Shah Poran, Belal was inside the underground water tank, attempting to illuminate it by switching on an electric bulb due to low visibility. The moment the bulb was turned on, an explosion occurred, reportedly due to accumulated gas inside the confined space.

All four victims were first rushed to a nearby hospital and later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at around 10:45 p.m.

Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident surgeon at the institute, confirmed that Belal sustained burns on 17% of his body. Zia and his two daughters suffered burns of 4%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. The three family members were discharged after treatment, while Belal remains under medical care.

Authorities suspect the explosion resulted from an ignition caused by the electrical connection inside the tank, where flammable gases may have built up over time.

The incident highlights the dangers of enclosed space maintenance without proper ventilation or safety protocols. Investigations into the exact cause are ongoing.