Popular taxi driver dies of injuries after house blast
DAD-OF-SIX WAS ‘LIKED BY EVERYONE’
A DAD-OF-SIX injured in a suspected gas blast that blew a house apart has died of his injuries – on his 56th birthday.
Taxi driver Munir Hussain was injured in the blast as he inspected the property after a neighbour reported a smell of gas.
Mr Hussain was rushed to hospital with severe burns to his arms and legs, but tragically died of his injuries, police have confirmed.
He was looking after the house for family who are currently in Pakistan and cannot return home due to the coronavirus travel restrictions.
A neighbour was also injured in the blast in Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, as falling debris left him with a cut face.
Kirklees councillor Mussarat Pervaiz said that Mr Hussain was a popular figure in the community.
Paying tribute, she said: “It’s a real tragedy, he will be a real big loss to the family.
“I have known the family he was married into since I was a little girl.
“He came to the county more than 30 years ago to marry his wife. He was well-known in Dewsbury and everybody liked him.
“He was a really genuine guy, properly down to earth and he got on with everyone.”
Cllr Pervaiz said the whole street was shocked by his death.
She added: “Everybody in the community is upset, there has been a real outpouring of grief for him.
“I’d like to than the emergency services for dealing with the situation so quickly and reassuring residents.”
Shocking pictures from the scene show the front of the terraced house was totally ripped off and the interior gutted by the blaze.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, including police, ambulance and fire engines from neighbouring towns, while rescue dogs were used to try to find people in the rubble.
At its height, six fire engines and a helicopter attended the blaze along with the NHS’s Hazardous Area Response Team.
Residents said the blast was so loud they thought a “bomb had gone off.”
Police yesterday said that inquiries remained ongoing to determine the cause of the blast, which happened just after 11.30am on Tuesday.
Det Insp James Bellhouse, of Kirklees CID, said: “Detectives are working with partner agencies including the Health and Safety Executive, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and Northern Gas to investigate this very serious incident.
“Tragically, a man who was seriously injured in the fire has died in hospital. His relatives are being supported by officers.
“Work has been ongoing on site by partners to make the property and surrounding houses safe as we continue to investigate the cause of this explosion.
“While those enquiries will take time we do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances at this stage.”