A day after a powerful explosion ripped through a house in Charbaghdanga Union under Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila, law enforcement agencies are yet to recover the bodies of two people believed to have been killed in the blast, as fears of more explosives inside the house delay rescue efforts.
Rajshahi Range DIG Md Shajahan visited the scene in the Phatapara area around 11:30 am on Saturday, February 14.
After inspecting the site, he said the bodies could not be reached immediately due to the risk of additional undetonated explosives inside the damaged house.
“The scene has been inspected. However, the bodies cannot be recovered right now. There may be more hand grenades inside. The Bomb Disposal Unit and CID have been informed. They will recover the bodies after ensuring safety,” he said.
The explosion occurred on Friday night, leaving at least two people dead and three others injured. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed as of Saturday afternoon, as their bodies remained inside the debris.
According to local residents, a loud blast shook the area late at night, triggering panic among nearby households. A portion of the house was severely damaged in the explosion. Two people died on the spot, while three others sustained injuries.
The injured have been identified as Md Shuvo, 22, son of Rafizul Islam of Ghora Stand area under Chapainawabganj Sadar police station; Md Minhaj Uddin, 30, son of Md Zenarul Haque of Charbaghdanga; and Md Bazlur Rahman, 20, son of Md Nazrul Islam of the same area.
Dr Shankar Kumar Biswas, officer-in-charge of the emergency department at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said three injured individuals were admitted following what he described as an incident involving bomb-making at home. They have been admitted to wards 8 and 2 and are currently undergoing treatment.
Police and other law enforcement personnel rushed to the scene shortly after the blast and cordoned off the area.
Additional Superintendent of Police ANM Wasim Firoz said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion and who may have been involved.
The incident has left the locality tense, with residents expressing shock and concern over the possibility of explosive materials being stored in a residential house. Authorities said further details would be available once the Bomb Disposal Unit completes its operation and forensic experts examine the site.