At least two people, including a female teacher, were killed and 30 others injured when a study tour bus plunged into a roadside ditch in Satkania upazila of Chattogram early Saturday.
Several injured passengers are in critical condition.
The accident occurred around 4am in front of KBM Brick Kiln near Keranihat Railway Crossing on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway.
The deceased were identified as Sohana Afroz, 45, a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Bakshimul Sunnia Islamia Senior Madrasa in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila, and Sakhawat Hossain Israfil, 56, husband of Nadera Afroz, a lecturer in the madrasa’s Department of Bangla.
Dohazari Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Nurul Absar confirmed the incident.
According to madrasa sources, more than 100 students, teachers and staff left for Cox’s Bazar in two buses around 10pm on Friday.
The bus following the first vehicle lost control and plunged into the ditch upon reaching Keranihat area early Saturday.
Passengers in the first bus returned to the scene to help with rescue efforts.
Locals, Fire Service personnel, Highway Police and local police rescued the injured and took them to different hospitals.
Sources at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) said six injured people, including a 15-year-old girl and a six-year-old child, were admitted and are receiving treatment in ward no. 2.
Md Tariqul Islam, an Alim examinee from the madrasa, said they returned to the scene after learning about the accident and helped rescue the victims.
Abdur Rahim, an assistant teacher at the madrasa, said the bus lost control before plunging into the ditch.
He added that the two deceased were seated in the front seats and were suspected to have drowned.
Mohammad Rashed, a local ambulance driver, said he helped rescue the victims and took them to different private hospitals, adding that several injured passengers remain in critical condition.
OC Nurul said police had recovered the bodies and arranged hospital transport for the injured.
The bus has also been recovered, while the bodies remain in police custody and will be handed over to the families after legal formalities are completed, he added.
