Gazipur: Eight people were killed and 40 others injured as a boiler exploded at a readymade garment (RMG) factory in the city’s Nayarapara area on Monday evening.

Ataur Rahman, duty officer at the Fire Service Central Control Room, said the boiler went off with a big bang at Multi-Fabs Ltd on the ground floor of a four-storey building under Joydevpur Police Station around 7:10 pm.

Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Dr Dewan M Humayun Kabir said the blast left eight workers dead. He, however, could not identify the deceased.

A portion of the building collapsed while another part tilted following the explosion, said police and Fire Service.

They said the victims died on the spot as collapsed debris and machinery fell on them.

On information, 10 fire-fighting units rushed in, Ataur said, adding that they took the injured workers to different hospitals and clinics, including Sharif Medical College Hospital and Popular Hospital.

Later, some of them were shifted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the capital as their condition deteriorated.

Firefighters were searching for victims under the debris till filing of this report around 10:30pm.

Meanwhile, the DC and Additional Police Super Shakhawat Hossain visited the spot.

Besides, the district administration formed an eight-member investigation committee to look into the incident, the DC said, adding that the probe panel was asked to submit its report within seven days.

On the other hand, Humayun announced to provide Tk 20,000 to the families of each deceased.