Seven people were killed and six others injured after a rice-laden truck lost control and fell into a roadside ditch in Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla.
The accident occurred early Tuesday morning at Hasanpur area on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Afzal Hossain, 35, Sohrab Hossain, 40, Salek, 45, Suman, 21, Bisu, 35, Abu Hossain, 30 and Abdur Rashid, 55. All of them were from Dinajpur.
The injured are Amir Ali, 45, Tariqul Islam, 50, Jalal Hossain, 37, Md Aminul Islam, 38 and Jahangir Alam, 40. Their full identities could not be confirmed immediately.
Daudkandi Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Iqbal Bahar Majumdar said “The truck, loaded with rice, was heading towards Chattogram from Dinajpur. It lost control after reaching Hasanpur and overturned into a deep roadside ditch.”
Police said a total of 13 people were sitting on top of the truck. As it fell into the ditch, they were trapped under rice sacks, leaving seven dead on the spot.
Highway police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene and carried out rescue operations. The injured were taken to Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex.
Doctor Nayan De said five of the injured were in critical condition. “They were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital early in the morning as their condition deteriorated,” he said.
The bodies are now kept at the highway police station. Police said they will be handed over to families after legal procedures are completed.
