At least 17 passengers were killed and 23 injured after a bus plunges into roadside ditch in Chhotrokanada area under Sadar upazila of Jhalakathi on Saturday July 22 morning.
Police said quoting the rescued passengers that the tragic accident happened at about 10:30am when the driver of the bus tried to give side an easy bike in the Chhotrokanada area. The damaged bus was recovered at 12noon.
Meanwhile, a five-member probe committee on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) has been formed to investigate the reason behind the accident. There are eight women and three children among the deceased.
According to the locals, the bus belonging to ‘Bashar Smriti Paribahan’ with capacity of 35-40 passengers were carrying around 60-70 passengers. It was heading towards Barishal from Bhandaria in Pirojpur district.
The driver of the bus lost control over the steering when the vehicle reached in the Chhotrokanada area and fall into the ditch.
At first, members of Fire Service and Civil Defence and police recovered 13 bodies. Later, four more bodies were recovered. Injured 23 are receiving treatment at Sadar Hospital, Some of them are slated to be critical.
Eight of the deceased were identified as, Mahin, 25; and Shahin Molla, 33. Sumaiya, 5, Abdullah, 7, Ripa Moni, 2, Samad Molla, 60, Tarik, 55, Noyon16.
