Death toll of Bangladesh's masjid explosion rises to 27

DHAKA - The death toll from an explosion in a masjid in Bangladesh's central Narayanganj district, about 20 km from the capital Dhaka, has risen to 27, an official said Monday.

Another nine people are still battling for their lives at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka following the simultaneous blasts of all the air-conditioners on the ground floor of the masjid during prayers on Sept. 4 night.

"Another victim died Monday which takes the number of total death toll to 27," Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, told journalists.

Of the victims, he said, 26 succumbed to their injuries until Sunday night.

A total of 37 injured people were rushed to the institute on Friday night after the explosion.

Most of the victims suffered from 60 percent to 70 percent burns, and the condition of nine other patients is still critical, said Sen.

Fire officials said the incident might have happened due to the leakages in a gas pipeline underneath the masjid.

All the air-conditioners on the ground floor burst into flames at around 9:00 p.m. local time on Friday when the worshippers were about to leave the masjid after their Isha (night) prayers.

There were reportedly around 100 worshippers at the three-storey masjid during the explosion.

The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense formed a committee to investigate the incident.