Seven bus passengers were killed and 42 others injured in a fatal road accident that occurred today noon at CO Bazar point on the Rangpur-Thakurgaon highway in the city, police said.
“The accident occurred when a Panchagarh bound BRTC bus from Bogra and a Rangpur bound passenger bus from Thakurgaon collided head-on there at noon,” said Additional Superintendent of Police for Circle-A Saifur Rahman Saif.
Four passengers, including three women, were killed on the spot while three other critically injured passengers succumbed to injuries at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH).
“Police immediately rescued the injured passengers, including men, women and children, and rushed them to the RMCH,” Saif said adding that both the damaged buses were rescued and seized.
“The deceased passengers include five women, one minor boy and an aged man and their bodies would be handed over to their relatives after necessary formalities,” Director of RMCH Dr Ajay Kumar Roy told BSS.
“The number of death might increase as conditions of three more injured persons, out of 42 undergoing treatment at RMCH, were very critical,” said Dr Ajay.
Six of the deceased persons were identified as Roksana Begum, 20, wife of Rubel Hossain of Sundarganj upazila in Gaibandha, Omizan Nesa, 45, wife of Anwar Hossain of Syedpur upazila and Noor Banu, 45, wife of late Shahidul Islam of Kishoreganj upazila in Nilphamari, Abdur Rahman, 60, of Thakurgaon,
Shahin, 10, of Panchagarh and Sumi Akhter, 24, wife of Police Constable Mamun working at Tentulia Thana in Panchagarh. Identity of another woman, who succumbed at RMCH, could not be known.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Ruhul Amin Mian said the district administration would provide Tk. 20,000 to each family of deceased persons and financial assistance to ensure treatments of the injured persons.
The district administration has formed a three-member probe committee headed by Additional District Magistrate Monnaf Kabir with a senior police official and a BRTA official as members to investigate.
“The probe committee will submit report within the next seven working days,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Ruhul Amin Mian told BSS at 3:45 pm.
Source: BSS