Dhaka, Nov 18 (IANS) At least seven people were killed and 10 injured in a gas line explosion near a port in southern Chittagong city of Bangladesh, police said.

The incident occurred in the Pathorghata area of the city, police deputy commissioner Mehedi Hasan told EFE on Sunday.

"At least 17 people were injured in the incident. Seven of them were declared dead in a hospital. There could be some pedestrians among the victims," he said.

Mehedi said a part of a five-storied building also collapsed after the explosion.

"We are suspecting that the explosion occurred due to a leak in the gas line," he said.

Alahuddin Mia, a sub-inspector at the police camp of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said some of the injured were taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Gas line explosion is not uncommon in Bangladesh, where poor maintenance is often blamed for such accidents.

--IANS rt/