At least 16 people were killed and dozens of others suffered serious burns when air conditioners of a masjid in Narayanganj on the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka exploded Friday night, local police said. 

Fire officials suspected a gas leak caused the horrendous incident, which occurred when the Muslim worshipers were about to leave the masjid after their Isha (night) prayers at around 9:00 p.m. local time Friday night.

All eight air-conditioners on the ground floor burst into flames when there were reportedly around 100 worshipers at the three-story masjid.

Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj, said huge blasts caused window glass from the masjid to fly onto the street and ceiling fans, wires and electric switch boards to get burned.

Kamrul Ahsan, a control room official at the fire service headquarters in Dhaka, said firemen managed to bring the flames under control after around half an hour of hectic effort.

The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense have formed a committee to investigate the incident.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: Doctors treat burn Muslim worshipers in a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 5, 2020. /AP)