Four people were killed and at least 10 others injured when a Dhaka-bound bus plunged into a roadside ditch after colliding with an auto-rickshaw in Patuakhali Sadar upazila on Saturday night.
The accident occurred around 11:40pm at Dhalu Gazi’s intersection near Basak Bazar on the Dhaka-Kuakata highway.
The deceased were identified as Kaiyum Paida, 50, son of Razzak Paida of Amkhola village in Galachipa upazila; Shilpi Rani, 40, daughter of Anil Hawladar of Char Ani Bauria village in the same upazila; Jahangir Hawladar, 35, son of Abdus Salam Hawladar of Badarpur village; and Tithi, 23, daughter of Dhiren Mistry of Bilbilas village in Bauphal upazila.
According to police and local sources, a bus of Imran Travels, carrying around 35 passengers, was heading to Dhaka from Taltali in Barguna when it collided with the auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction. Both vehicles fell into a roadside ditch after they lost control over the steering.
Police and Fire Service personnel along with the assistance of locals recovered three bodies from the scene. Locals said the victims were passengers of the auto-rickshaw.
Another body was later recovered from the spot during the rescue operation.
No major casualties among the passengers of the bus were reported immediately.
Patuakhali Fire Service Station Officer Md Rezaowan said two units were conducting rescue operations to check whether anyone was trapped inside the bus or whether more bodies were in the water.
Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Md Moniruzzaman said four bodies had so far been recovered and the rescue operation was continuing. Further casualties could be confirmed after the rescue operation, he said.
The bus driver and supervisor reportedly fled the scene after the accident.
FP/A
