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Published : 03 Apr 2025, 06:55 PM
Highway Police have pointed out driver fatigue as the key cause behind the deadly bus-microbus collision in Chattogram’s Lohagara that claimed 10 lives.
According to police, the bus driver was weary from journeying continuously, becoming sleepy in the process. He eventually lost control of the vehicle on a slippery, winding road, which led to the crash.
The Highway Police also noted that road bends, uneven bumps, and saltwater spills from trucks contribute to frequent accidents in the area.
Three crashes in just 48 hours on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway at Chunati Jangalia have left 15 dead and at least 30 injured.
On Wednesday morning, the bus swerved out of a bend and collided with an oncoming microbus head-on, killing seven passengers in the microbus on the spot.
The crash occurred just 30 to 35 yards from the site of another fatal accident on Eid day, which claimed five lives when a bus collided with a minibus.
A day later, two microbuses overturned and fell into a roadside ditch, injuring 12 people.
Highway Police Additional Inspector General Delwar Hossain Mia said, “We are investigating the causes of these accidents. The bus involved in the Lohagara crash [a Relax Paribahan bus] was [fatigued]. The driver, exhausted from driving non-stop from Dhaka via Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar, became drowsy. As the bus approached the Jangalia bend, he lost control and hit the brakes hard, leading to the accident. The road was also likely slippery due to saltwater spills.”
He added, “We have found that the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route often becomes slippery due to saltwater dripping from transport trucks. We asked salt traders to cover their cargo with plastic sheets, but they argued that preventing leaks would turn the truckload into a pool of water. While we cannot disrupt their business, we are looking for alternative solutions through discussions.”
Speaking about the road conditions in the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary area, Highway Police chief Delwar said: “There are multiple sharp bends. The road’s edge is also about seven to eight inches lower, making it difficult for fast-moving vehicles to give way without skidding. This increases the risk of overturning or colliding with other vehicles. We will address these issues.”
