Death Toll Rises to 14 in Natore Bus-Truck Head-On Collision, at Least 20 Injured
The death toll from a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Baraigram upazila of Natore has risen to 14. At least 20 people were injured in the crash and admitted to various hospitals.
The accident happened in the early hours of Tuesday (20 October) in front of Zaheda Clinic at Bonpara on the Natore-Pabna highway. Police and fire service sources said an RP Paribahan passenger bus travelling from Kuakata to Chapainawabganj collided head-on with the sand-laden truck.
The fronts of both the bus and the truck were crushed in the collision. Ten people died on the spot. Four more died after being taken to hospital.
District Commissioner Mosha. Sumoni Akter confirmed the toll. She said 14 people had died so far in the accident, and that alongside identifying the dead, efforts were being made to contact their families.
One of the dead has been identified: Sohag Hossain (30), son of Yunus Ali of Kazirhat village in Jazira upazila of Shariatpur. Police said efforts were continuing to identify the other victims.
Bonpara Highway Police Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain and Natore Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Deputy Director Akter Hamid Khan said rescue teams reached the scene quickly after receiving the news and began work. The bodies of 10 people were recovered from the scene and sent to the upazila hospital.
Eyewitness Sajal Mahmud said that after the accident they went to the scene and found passengers packed tightly inside the bus. Local people then came forward to rescue the casualties and helped with the rescue work. The horror of the accident spread panic at the scene.
The injured were rescued and sent to various local clinics, the upazila health complex, Natore Sadar Hospital and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Several of them were reported to be in critical condition.
Abdus Salam, a passenger on the ill-fated bus, said the bus was travelling from Kuakata to Chapainawabganj. He had boarded at around 9pm from Mostakpur in Madaripur to travel to Chapainawabganj, and his seat was towards the rear of the bus.
He alleged that the bus was carrying excess passengers. Alongside every seat being full, many passengers were standing, and there was no room even to step inside the bus because of the crowding. The bus was travelling at excessive speed and the driver braked hard at times, throwing passengers from their seats. He claimed excess passengers and speed may have caused the accident — though the truth of that allegation needs to be verified through investigation.
After receiving news of the accident, National Parliament Whip Advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, District Commissioner Mosha. Sumoni Akter and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shariful Haque visited the scene and enquired about the situation.
District Commissioner Mosha. Sumoni Akter said that after the site visit, necessary measures including forming an investigation committee would be taken. Investigating the cause of the accident and taking necessary action featured prominently in officials' discussions.
After this tragic accident at Bonpara, demands to ensure road safety have come to the fore again. Local people are watching to see what action is taken against those responsible if the allegations of excess passengers and excessive speed are proved in the investigation.
Forming the investigation committee, completing the identification of the dead, and treating the injured are now the administration's main tasks. Concern remains over those injured who are in critical condition, so a final picture of the death toll may require further waiting.
