Three people were killed and at least 18 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a sand-laden truck at Baniyacho in Shahrashti upazila of Chandpur on Tuesday morning.
All three deceased were men, but their identities could not immediately be confirmed, said Additional Superintendent of Police of Chandpur Lutfor Rahman.
The accident occurred around 8am when the Al-Arafah Paribahan bus was trying to overtake another vehicle and collided with the truck coming from the opposite direction, said witnesses.
Officer-in-Charge of Shahrashti Police Station Mir Mahbubur Rahman said Noakhali-to-Jessore-bound Al-Arafah Paribahan bus collided head-on with the sand-laden truck coming from the opposite direction.
The front portions of both vehicles were badly mangled in the collision, leaving several bus passengers trapped inside.
The injured were taken to Shahrashti Upazila Health Complex.
Aklima Akter, health and family planning officer of Shahrashti Upazila, told UNB that 18 injured people were brought to the hospital from the accident site.
"They were given emergency treatment. Three of them were in critical condition and were referred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital after receiving initial treatment," she said.
The remaining injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital, she added.
OC Mir Mahbubur Rahman said three bodies have so far been recovered from the scene and the rescue operation is still underway.
