A lightning strike triggered a fire at a gas-line riser at the residence of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku in Sirajganj on Wednesday, causing panic among local residents.
The incident occurred around 1:00pm when lightning struck the gas-line riser near the main gate of the minister’s residence at Hossainpur on Al Mahmud Avenue in Sirajganj municipality.
The strike caused a loud bang and set the riser on fire, prompting the gate guard and others at the residence to shout for help. Local people rushed to the spot but initially failed to extinguish the flames.
Officials and employees of the local gas office and members of the Fire Service later rushed to the scene and brought the fire under control after about an hour of efforts.