BRAHMANBARIA: Two youths and a minor boy were killed and 20 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside ditch on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Sarail upazila of the district Wednesday night.

The kid was identified as Torikul Islam, 10, son of Sadek Mian of Jamalpur village of Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur district while identity of the other deceased could not be known immediately.

Sergeant Shahed Nur of Khatihata Highway Police outpost told banglanews “The bus carrying 45 pilgrims fell into the ditch after it had broken railing of a bridge in Beratala area at 8:00pm as its driver lost control over the steering.”

The bus was coming back to Gazipur from Sylhet after offering prayer at mazar of Hazrat Shahajalal, Nur added.

Locals rescued 15 to 20 people and took them to Ashuganj and Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospitals. Five of the critically injured were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as condition deteriorated.

Of the injured, two succumbed to theirs injures on way to the Sadar hospital while another died at DMCH.

A unit of the district Fire Service and Civil Defense is working to rescue the bus. Later, a wrecker of Bangladesh Gas Fields Company added to the rescue operation.

BDST: 0926 HRS, MAR 27, 2014