10 killed, 50 hurt

At least 10 people were killed and 50 injured in a three-vehicle pile-up at the west end of Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge in Sirajganj yesterday.

The identities of the dead could not be known immediately. The death toll might rise further as some of the victims were in critical condition, Sirajganj Superintendent of Police SM Emran Hossain told The Daily Star.

The accident happened at Shimanto Bazar of Konabari point on the Dhaka-Sirajganj highway at the west zone of the Bangabandhu Bridge around 3:30pm when a Bogra-bound iron sheets-laden truck collided head-on with a Dhaka-bound bus of Antar Paribahan.

A Nabil Paribahan's bus then rear-ended the Antar Paribahan bus, killing two people on the spot, the SP said.

Six others died on the way to hospital, SP Emran said, adding that a total of 44 passengers on the buses were undergoing treatment in Sirajganj General Hospital and other local hospitals.

Later, two more victims died at the general hospital, police said.

Bangabandhu Bridge West Zone Police Station Officer-in-Charge Helal Uddin said the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle after its front tyre exploded, leading to the head-on collision.

Police and firefighters rushed to the spot and rescued the victims, said the OC.

Following the accident, vehicular movement came to a halt on the highway for about one and a half hours. Vehicular movement returned to normal after 5:00pm, he said.

Sirajganj SP Emran said most of the victims hailed from Kurigram and Gaibandha districts.