NARSINGDI: A terrible road mishap left at least 7 people dead and another 25 maimed as a bus rammed a smaller passenger vehicle on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Shibpur upazila of the district, police and witnesses said.

Among the deceased, two were identified as Sultan, 40, and Shahid, 35.

Witnesses said a Dhaka-bound passenger bus of Chalanbil Paribahan from Bhairab collided head-on with a passenger-crammed Leguna, a local human hauler, and skidded off the road into a roadside ditch near Kundarpara bridge around 11.00am.

Seven ill-fated passengers of the Leguna were killed on the spot while 25 others of both the vehicles injured.

Critically injured 10 people were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Traffic movement halted for about two hours on the Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Kishoreganj, Dhaka-Brahmanbaria and Dhaka-Bhairab highways following the fatal accident.

Police rushed in and took the situation under control. The disrupted traffic, however, became normal at around 2.00pm.

BDST: 1537 HRS June 30, 2010