Body of two recovered, three others found sick from suspected toxic gas leak

Police yesterday recovered the bodies of two people, who are suspected to have died from toxic gas in Jhalakathi's Rajapur.

The dead, Md Forkan Howlader, 55, and his wife Mahinur Begum, 45, were found dead inside their home. Three of their family members -- Forkan's son Mainul, 14, his daughter-in-law Mahfuja Akter, 28, and her daughter Sharmin, 3 -- were found senseless.

Humayun Kazi, union parishad member of ward-7, said, "As none of the family members came out of their home till 11:00am, some neighbours went to check on them. As they got no response, they broke in and found the couple dead and three others senseless."

They informed the police and took the senseless to hospital, where doctors said they were out of danger.

Pulak Chandro Roy, OC of Rajapur Police Station, said they sent the sent to recovered bodies to the morgue for autopsy.

"We found the presence of toxic gas in their house. However, we can only say how they died after getting the autopsy report."