Dhaka – At least 20 people were killed and scores injured after a boiler exploded at a packaging factory in central Bangladeshi district of Gazipur, police and firefighters said on Saturday.

The explosion at Tampaco Foils in Tongi industrial area caused collapse of the four-storey factory building. The explosion also triggered devastating fire, said Fire Service and Civil Defence offiial Mohammad Rafiquzzaman.

On-duty doctor Parvej Ahmed said that 17 bodies were brought to Tongi General Hospital where many others were undergoing treatment. Most of the people suffered burn and multiple injuries, said the doctor. Three persons succumbed to their injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Television footages show the rescuers from police and firefighting units have still been trying to get inside the factory building to douse the flame. They failed to bring the fire under control in six hours time.

Twenty-two workers who sustained injuries are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The death toll may rise further as firefighters were still trying to douse the flames, police officer Harun-ar-Rashid said.

The Tampoco Foils factory produces packets for tobacco and other consumer products.

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