Dhaka: Seven of a family among eight people were burnt in sleep as fire broke out at a flat of Al Amin Road at Dogile in capital’s Demra in the early hours of Monday.

The accident took place at about 3:30am on Monday. Later, local people rescued the injured and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s Burn Unit at about 5:00am.

The injured are Alamgir, in his forties, a tenant at the second floor of a two-storey building at Al Amin road, his wife Fedousi, in her thirties, their children Emon, around 15 years, Shipon, 12 years old, and 2-year-old Tasin, Alamgir’s nephew Tofail, believed to be 28, his wife Ratna, around 18 years, and their sub-let renter Arif, in his twenties.

Ferdousi said they were all sleeping, when she heard her sons screaming. She went to see them and in a second, all of them burnt without even knowing what is going on at their house.

She said they shifted to this house two months ago. After moving in to the house, they smelled gas. They informed the house-owner about the gas leak. However, she could not confirm the reason behind last night’s fire incident.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital police post sub-inspector (SI) Bacchu Mia said the injured are taking treatment at the Burn Unit.