13 killed as bus-covered van collision sparks fire in Bangladesh's Faridpur

At least 13 people have been killed and over a dozen wounded when a bus and a covered van hauling gas cylinders collided head-on, sparking a fire on Dhaka-Khulna Highway in Faridpur's Nagarkanda.

Bhanga Highway Police OC Ezazul Islam has confirmed the number of casualties and the details of the accident to bdnews24.com.

He told bdnews24.com that the Dhaka-bound Hanif Paribahan bus from Narhail hit the oncoming van in Gazaria, some 12 kilometres from Bhanga.

The two vehicles caught fire when the cylinders fell off the van on impact and exploded.

Thirteen persons, including the van driver, died on the spot while more than 12 others were injured.

 

Nagarkanda Police Station OC Md Nasim said the accident happened around 11:15pm on Friday.

The injured persons were sent to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex and Faridpur Medical College Hospital, he said.

The bodies and the burnt vehicles were brought to the highway police station after the rescue operation was called off around 1:45am on Saturday, he added.

The injured persons were sent to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex and Faridpur Medical College Hospital, he said.

The bodies and the burnt vehicles were brought to the police station after the rescue operation was called off at around 1:45am, he added.

Witnesses said the bus driver lost control when a front wheel burst and hit the van. The cylinders from the van then fell off, exploding and setting the two vehicles on fire.

Fire Service's Faridpur Station officer ABM Mamtazuddin Ahmed told bdnews24.com from the scene that 12 of the deceased were passengers of the bus and the other was the van driver.

Fire Service's Bhanga Station officer Shamsuddoha earlier said five bodies were recovered.

"There are more burnt people inside the bus. We are checking," he added.