Three people were killed and at least 15 others injured in a head-on collision between a sand-laden dump truck and a passenger bus on the Chandpur–Cumilla regional highway in Shahrashti upazila of Chandpur on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred at around 8am in the Baniyacho area, causing temporary disruption to traffic on the busy regional road. News of the crash quickly spread through the locality, prompting a crowd of residents to gather at the scene as emergency responders began rescue operations.
According to eyewitnesses and Fire Service officials, the sand-carrying dump truck was travelling towards Cumilla. At the same time, an Al-Arafa passenger bus travelling from Dinajpur towards Hajiganj was approaching from the opposite direction. When the two vehicles reached the Baniyacho area, they collided head-on.
The impact was severe. The front section of the bus was badly crushed, leaving several people trapped inside. Passengers, as well as the bus driver and his assistant, were among those caught in the wreckage. The force of the collision also left the dump truck severely damaged.
Three people died at the scene. They were identified as Abdul Wahab, 40, the driver of the dump truck; Kamal, 35, the bus driver from Gaibandha; and Shovon, 30, the bus driver’s assistant from Bagerhat.
After receiving information about the accident, a rescue team from the Shahrashti Fire Service station reached the spot and began extracting the victims from the damaged vehicles. Fire Service personnel worked for nearly an hour to complete the rescue operation, with local residents also assisting them.
At least 15 people sustained injuries in the crash. Several of the injured travelled to Cumilla Medical College Hospital with the help of local residents. Three seriously injured people were taken by Fire Service personnel to Shahrashti Upazila Health Complex for immediate medical attention. Following initial treatment, they were transferred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for more advanced care.
Aklima Jahan, an official at Shahrashti Upazila Health Complex, said several of the injured had suffered significant blood loss and were in critical condition. After receiving the necessary initial treatment, those in more serious condition were referred to another hospital for specialised care.
Police also went to the scene after being informed of the collision. Mir Mahbubur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shahrashti Police Station, said the bodies of the three deceased were later taken to the police station. Police subsequently seized both the bus and the dump truck involved in the accident.
The Chandpur–Cumilla regional highway is an important transport route for local residents and passengers travelling between different areas. Buses, lorries, dump trucks and other vehicles regularly use the road, meaning collisions involving large vehicles can result in a high number of casualties, particularly when they occur head-on.
The exact cause of Tuesday’s accident had not been established immediately. Investigators will need to determine whether driver error, excessive speed, lack of caution or another road-related circumstance contributed to the collision. Police are expected to examine the seized vehicles and the circumstances surrounding the crash before taking further legal action.
The accident has once again highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of collisions between heavy vehicles and passenger buses on busy regional highways. Determining the precise circumstances behind the crash will be essential both for the legal process and for identifying measures that could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
