FARIDPUR: At least 25 people were killed and 20 others injured as a passenger bus plunged into a roadside ditch in Kaidubi area under Bhanga Upazila early Thursday.

Eleven of the deceased were identified as Akli Akter, Asma, Amena, Helal and Shahin of Patukhali district, Abjal Mian, 65, and Surja Begum, 40, of Barisal, Rejaul, 35, Mirjaganj, Monirul Islam, 35, of Jessore, Shafikul, 25, of Muksedpur of Gopalganj, and Hasna Begum.

Bhanga Highway Thana Officer-in-Charge Hossain Sarkar confirmed the matter to banglanews.

Hossain said the accident happened when a Patuakhali-bound passenger bus of Sonartori Paribahan hit a tree beside the road in the area around 1:00am, leading the bus fell into roadside ditch, killing 19 people on the spot 26 others injured.

The injured were rushed to the Upazila Health Complex and Faridpur Medical College and Hospital (FMCH).

Three of them succumbed to their injuries on way to the Health Complex while three others died at FMCH, raising death toll to 25.

Rest 18 injured were undergoing treatment at FMCH.
 
However, the passengers claimed that the accident occurred as the driver lost control over steering.

Quoting the injured, the OC said that the driver had been driving recklessly since the bus (Dhaka Metro Ba-14-7074) left Dhaka for Patuakhali at night. The driver overtook several buses carelessly after crossing Aminbazar in the city.

The passengers told the divers not to do so but he did not listen to them, he added.

BDST: 0444 HRS/0940 HRS, APR 9, 2015
HB/AKA