Mohammad Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said the gas pipeline in front of five-storey Barua Building at Brick Kiln Road exploded with a big bang around 8:45am.

Witnesses said walls of the building were blown off following the explosion, killing seven people on the spot. The victims include residents of the building and passersby.

The deceased were identified as Abdus Sukkur, 50, a rickshaw-puller; Md Selim, 40, a van-puller hailing from Cox’s Bazar’s Moheshkhali upazila; Annie Barua, former headmistress of Meher Ati Government Primary School in Patiya; Nurul Islam, 30, a painter and son of Abdul Hamid of Kutuber Kheel area in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar; Julekha Khanom Farjana, 30, wife of Ataur Rahman hailing from Moulvir Dokan area in Satkania and her son Atikur Rahman Shuvo, 7. 

Another body was yet to be identified, said Abdur Rob, assistant deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. He said several bodies have already been handed over to their relatives.  

The explosion in the morning also damaged the gate of the nearby building and a microbus at its garage, locals said.

On information, police and firefighters rushed to the spot. The injured were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, the district administration formed a five-member probe body to look into the incident.

Deputy Commissioner Md Elias Hossain said a probe panel formed with an additional deputy commissioner as its head was asked to submit report within the next seven days.

Representatives of Fire Service, Chattogram City Corporation and Chittagong Development Authority were also included in the committee.

The DC also announced to provide Tk 20,000 to families of each deceased.

He said the district administration and the city corporation will foot the treatment bill of the injured.
   
Meanwhile, CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin also visited the spot.