Probe body blames owners, drivers of 3 buses for Natore road crash

Investigators probing Monday’s road accident in Natore have blamed the owners and drivers of three buses for the mishap that killed 36 people.

"Those who are actually responsible for the accident are the drivers and helpers of Keya Paribahan, Othoi Paribahan, and Hanif Paribahan. Legal actions will be taken against them," Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader said on Thursday.

A five-member probe team formed by the Natore district administration filed its report on Wednesday, a day ahead of the deadline.

The report reached the road transport ministry on Thursday.

On Monday, a bus of Rajshahi-bound Keya Paribahan collided with an oncoming Gurudaspur Upazila-bound bus of Othoi Paribahan in the Rejir Morh area.

The accident left 36 people dead, according to the probe report.

It said a bus of Hanif Paribahan ran over the injured of the crash after the collision, which caused the number of casualties to rise.

The district administration had formed the probe committee the same day, which filed its findings on Wednesday.

The probe found the Keya Paribahan's driver was driving recklessly. The accident occurred when he tried to overtake a truck.

Minister Obaidul Quader said that the fitness certificate and route permit of Keya Paribahan's bus was not up-to-date while the vehicle registration of the Othoi Paribahan bus was fake.

Both of the buses had taken on more than 40 passengers on their roofs, he said.

Though the probe also found the involvement of a bus of Hanif Paribahan, the bus and the driver are yet to be identified. The matter was being investigated, said the minister.

The report also outlined 17 recommendations to avoid such accidents in future, added Quader.