Death Toll Rises to 10 in Natore Bus-Truck Head-On Collision, at Least 25 Injured
The death toll from a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Baraigram, Natore, has risen to at least 10. At least 25 people were injured in the tragic accident on the Natore-Pabna highway at dawn today, Tuesday (October 20), several of them in critical condition.
The accident took place at around 5:00 am on Tuesday in front of the Bonpara police investigation centre in Baraigram upazila, on the Natore-Pabna highway. According to the Fire Service and Baraigram police sources, an RP Paribahan passenger bus travelling from Barguna in Barishal towards Rajshahi collided head-on with a Pabna-bound sand-laden truck coming from the opposite direction.
The impact was so severe that nine people died on the spot. The injured were rescued and sent to local hospitals as well as hospitals in Natore and Rajshahi. One child among the injured died at Natore Sadar Hospital, taking the death toll to at least 10.
Natore Fire Service Station Officer Aktar Hossain confirmed the incident. Abdur Rouf, Senior Station Officer of Natore Sadar Fire Service and Civil Defence, said at least 30 people were injured in the accident. Among the dead is a 10-year-old girl; the rest, including the driver and helper, are all male.
The identities of the dead and injured could not be established immediately. Police and Fire Service members are working to identify them, while relatives have rushed to the hospitals after hearing the news.
Natore's Additional Superintendent of Police Iftekhayer Alam said the injured and the dead were sent to Natore Sadar Hospital and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Traffic on the road is now normal, he said, adding that legal measures will be taken in this regard.
The early-morning accident has once again raised questions about highway safety. Organisations working on road safety routinely blame driver fatigue in the early hours after overnight journeys, excessive speed and the uncontrolled movement of sand-laden trucks for such head-on collisions. The specific cause of this accident will only be known after investigation.
After the accident, Fire Service and police members joined in removing the two wrecked vehicles to restore the road to normal. A pall of grief has descended on the accident site and the surrounding area.
Loss of life in road accidents has long been a major concern in Bangladesh. Almost every day, lives are lost on highways somewhere in the country. The Natore accident has added the irreparable loss of ten more families to that list.
All eyes are now on identifying the dead and handing over the bodies to their relatives. There is also concern for the seriously injured undergoing treatment in hospital — attention will remain on whether the death toll rises further.
