16 killed in Rangpur road accident

At least 16 people were killed and eight critically injured after a truck carrying Eid holidaymakers skidded off a road in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur early today.

The victims were identified as -- Rabiul Islam, 40; Azizul Islam, 35; Suporna Begum, 10; Kohinur Begum, 30; Jhantu Mia, 35; Moznu Mia 29; Nasida Akter 40; Alamgir Hossain 27; Delwar Hossain, 25; Jashim Uddin, 26; Anisuzzaman, 35; Shahiduzzaman 30; Saddam Hossain, 24; Munir Hossain, 24; Rafiqul Islam, 24; and Khalil Mia, 32.

The victims were going to their village homes from Dhaka and Gazipur for celebrating Eid with their family members, Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Pirganj Police Station, told our Dinajpur correspondent.

Around 35 people mostly low income people and day labourers got on the truck which was fully loaded with sacks of cement, the police official said.

Bodies of the victims in the tragic road accident on Dhaka-Rangpur highway that least at least 16 people dead early on June 24, 2017. Photo: Star

The truck skidded off the road in Kalabagan area on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway around 4:30am, leaving 11 people dead on the spot and 13 others injured, he said.

The injured were rushed to Pirganj Upazila Health Complex where five of them succumbed to their injuries.

Later, the other eight injured were shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in critical condition and are being treated there, said Moudud Ahmed, director of the medical college.

The injured were identified as-- Jamila Begum, 60; Moyna Akter, 30; Mominul Islam, 34; Khalil Ahmed, 25; Dulal Mia, 30; Abdul Motin, 25; Mozaffar Ali, 25; and Rahima Begum, 38.