Two Killed, at Least 15 Injured in Head-On Bus-Covered Van Collision in Brahmanbaria's Sarail
Two people have been killed in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a covered van on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Sarail, Brahmanbaria. At least 15 people were injured in the incident.
The accident took place on Saturday morning (24 October) in the Bertola area of the highway. The morning crash caused temporary panic and disorder on the highway.
The deceased are Sourav (32), son of Abu Bakkar of Kazipara in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, and Asim (18), son of Muminul Islam of Horkoli Chowrapara in Rangpur Sadar. Both were passengers on the bus.
Sub-Inspector Roknuzzaman of Khatihata Highway Police Station said the passenger bus had left Rangpur and was heading towards Sylhet. In the Bertola area of the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, it collided head-on with a covered van coming from the opposite direction.
The force of the collision overturned the bus onto the road divider. Passengers inside the overturned bus were seriously injured and casualties occurred at the scene.
SI Roknuzzaman also said the injured were rescued and taken to Brahmanbaria District Sadar Hospital and other treatment centres. Two passengers died while undergoing treatment there.
At least 15 injured people are receiving treatment, it has been learned. However, no specific information was available as of the writing of this report on whether any of the injured are in critical condition.
The Dhaka-Sylhet highway is one of the busiest roads in the country. A large number of passenger buses, cargo trucks and covered vans use this highway every day. Head-on collisions on this busy road remain one of the biggest risks for travellers.
The exact cause of the accident was not known as of the writing of this report. The highway police did not provide details about the speed of either vehicle, the condition of the drivers, or the road conditions.
After the accident, rescue work and sending the injured to hospital were the first priorities. The identities of the two deceased were confirmed from police information — one was from Parbatipur in Dinajpur and the other from Rangpur Sadar.
This loss of life in a road accident has once again brought the question of safe travel on highways to the fore. After such incidents, the responsibility of those concerned to ensure passenger safety on long-distance bus journeys also comes up.
Treatment of the injured is ongoing. If details become available from the highway police about the investigation into the cause of the accident and the next legal process, readers will be informed.
