Sirajganj buses collide, death toll rises to 17

The death toll in the head-on collision of two buses in the west of the Bangabandhu Bridge in Sirajganj has risen to 17.

No fewer than 50 others were injured when two buses drove into each other at Mulibarhi of Saidabad Union at 5am on Sunday.

The Rangpur-bound bus of Sabir Paribahan from Chittagong and Azad Paribahan's Dhaka-bound bus from Gaibandha were involved in the collision, said Hellal Uddin, OC of the bridge’s west-end police station.

Of the victims, 12 died on the spot including both the drivers. Four others succumbed to injuries on their way to hospital.

Sirajganj Sadar Hospital’s Resident Medical Officer Faridul Islam said the victims were first admitted to different hospitals in the town but later shifted to Sadar hospital.

In critical condition, 24 of them were taken to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital (SZRMCH) for better treatment.

Sirajganj Sadar Hospital authorities said they handed over eight bodies to the relatives until 2pm.

Six bodies were kept at the morgue of the hospital, they said.

Sirajganj Civil Surgeon Debaprasad Roy said two people died on the way to the SZRMCH and their bodies were at the hospital morgue.

Another passenger died at the hospital around 7:30pm, he added.

The Bridges Division, Fire Service and Civil Defence, and police rescued the passengers until 8am.

Deputy Commissioner Billal Hossain, SP Miraj Uddin Ahammed and Bridges Division Traffic Manager Lieutenant Commander Mujahid Uddin visited the accident site.

A five-member committee has been set up to investigate the accident and submit their findings within three days, Deputy Commissioner Hossain told bdnews24.com.

The committee will be led by Additional District Magistrate Kamrul Hasan.

Additional Superintendent of Police Ziauddin Talukder, Sadar UNO Ben Jon Chambu Gong, Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Nizam Uddin and BRTA Deputy Director Ashrafuzzaman are on the committee.

Hossain said the families of those killed would be paid Tk 10,000 to take away the dead bodies.

He said the administration was monitoring the medical treatment of those injured.

SP Ahammed said Sabbir Paribahan’s bus was driving on the wrong side and that caused the mishap.

Both buses have been seized, he said.

Fifteen of the victims have been identified.

Azad Paribahan driver Minhaz Pradhan, 28, ‘Liton’, 42, Aminul Islam, 25, Milon, 22, and ‘Sabuj’, 20, of Gaibandha and Zillur Rahman, 46, from Bogra, Chan Babu, 22, and ‘Biplob’, 23, of Dinajpur are among the victims.

Also identified are Moushumi Khatun, 20, Anwarul Islam, 19, Abdul Kari, 45, Mofizur Rahman, 50, ‘Mahabub’, 40, and Rustam Kari, 85, and Abdus Salam, 54, from Rangpur.

Civil Surgeon Roy said they had handed over eight bodies to their relatives until 2pm.