Four members of a family were killed and 15 others injured as a gas cylinder in an ambulance exploded after being hit by two buses in Savar on Dhaka-Aricha highway early Thursday.

The deceased were identified as Faruk Hossain Siddique, 45, headmaster of Bhabon Datta Government Primary School in Ghatail upazila of Tangail district, his wife Mahsina Akter Sania, 38, his son Fuad Siddique, 14 and his sister-in-law Mahfuza Akter Shima, 35.

Savar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sougatul Alam said the ambulance caught fire around 2am as a bus of ‘Jhumur Paribahan’ crashed into it in front of Rajfulbaria Police Town and the fire engulfed the bus.

Another bus of ‘Shyamoli Paribahn’ also hit the ambulance and the blaze engulfed two buses.

Four people who were in the ambulance died on the spot, he said.

A number of passengers of Shyamoli Paribahan jumped out of the bus through windows and suffered injuries.

Eighty-two goats which were kept in the ‘Jhumur Paribahan’ bus were also burnt down, said deputy officer of Savar Fire Service and Civil Defence Manir Hossain.

The injured were rescued and admitted to a hospital for treatment.

On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after one hour.

The bodies were sent to the Shaheed Suhrawardy Police Station in Dhaka for autopsy.

Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Aricha highway remained suspended for two hours following the accident.

A case was filed in this connection.

Additional Deputy Inspector General of Highway Police Dr AKM Akhtaruzzaman Basunia said, "It seems that these goats belong to a businessman. He said it is illegal to bring animals in passenger buses. Necessary action will be taken after investigation.”