At least three people were killed and 19 others were injured as a bus caught on fire following a cylinder blast on Dhaka-Chattogram highway of Cumilla on Thursday.

Daudkandi Upazila Health Officer Sumon confirmed the information this evening. 

He said a bus of Matlab Express, bound to Matlab under Chandpur district from Dhaka, catches fire around 6:00 pm. At that moment, the gas cylinder of the bus exploded with a loud noise. Unable to get off the bus, two passengers were burnt to death inside while another died on the way to the hospital. Another 19 people were injured. Of them, 13 were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

The health official said four more injured people were sent home with first aid. Besides, two others have been admitted to the local hospital.