A tragic road accident on the Chittagong–Cox’s Bazar highway has claimed three lives and left five others injured after a microbus plunged into a roadside ravine in the Chunti area of Lohagara upazila on Tuesday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. near the Jangalia checkpoint when the vehicle, reportedly travelling towards Chattogram, suddenly lost control. According to eyewitness accounts, the black microbus was moving at high speed when the driver was unable to maintain control upon reaching a bend in the Chunti stretch. The vehicle first collided violently with a roadside tree before veering off the highway and falling into a deep ditch.
The impact was severe enough to cause immediate fatalities. Three passengers died at the scene, while five others sustained injuries of varying severity. Local residents rushed to the site shortly after the crash, breaking through the initial chaos to assist in rescue efforts before emergency services arrived.
The injured were transported to the Lohagara Upazila Health Complex, where medical staff provided first aid. However, due to the seriousness of their conditions, arrangements were being made to transfer several victims to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Hospital sources indicated that at least two of the injured remained in critical condition.
Fire service personnel from Lohagara confirmed that they reached the site promptly after receiving the alert. By the time they arrived, locals had already begun transporting the injured to hospital. Officials later recovered the bodies of the deceased and handed them over to the appropriate authorities for post-mortem examinations. Identification of the victims was not immediately confirmed.
Police officials stated that the microbus was en route from Cox’s Bazar towards the Khagrachhari region when the driver lost control. An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the crash, though preliminary assessments suggest that excessive speed or driver negligence may have contributed to the incident.
Authorities and local residents have long expressed concern over the accident-prone nature of this section of the highway, which features sharp bends and limited safety barriers in certain stretches. Calls have intensified for improved road signage, speed monitoring systems, and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations.
Accident Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Chunti, Lohagara, Chattogram |
| Time | Tuesday, approximately 9:15 a.m. |
| Vehicle | Microbus |
| Fatalities | 3 persons |
| Injured | 5 persons |
| Immediate Cause | Loss of vehicle control (under probe) |
| Suspected Factors | Excess speed / driver negligence |
The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures along this busy national highway, where similar accidents have occurred in the past.