NATORE — The death toll from a collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Bangladesh’s Natore district has risen to 14, with at least 30 people injured, officials said on Tuesday.
The accident occurred at around 4:30 am in the Sarkarpara area of Baraigram upazila on the Natore-Pabna highway.
Nine people died at the scene, while five others succumbed to their injuries after being taken for treatment, according to police. The injured were taken to Natore Sadar Hospital and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where eight people were admitted.
Additional Superintendent of Police in Natore Iftekhar Alam confirmed the deaths, saying the bodies were being kept at the morgue of Natore Hospital and arrangements had been made to provide medical treatment to the injured.
Police said the bus, operated by RP Paribahan, was travelling from Barguna in Barishal division to Rajshahi when it collided with a sand-laden truck heading towards Pabna.
Authorities were working to identify the victims and determine the circumstances surrounding the crash, with police and fire service personnel involved in the rescue operation.
Visiting the scene, Baraigram Upazila Nirbahi Officer Laila Jannatul Ferdous said driver fatigue might have been a factor, given that the accident occurred in the early hours of the morning. She said an investigation committee would be formed and warned that the death toll could rise because several injured passengers were in critical condition.
Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, a member of parliament for Natore-2 and a parliamentary whip, also visited the scene. He said he would try to provide financial assistance to the families of those killed and discuss measures to prevent further accidents on the highway with relevant government officials.
Authorities are continuing efforts to identify the dead and injured and investigate the cause of the collision.
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