At least six people have been killed and 35 others injured after two buses collided head-on at Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur.
The accident took place in the upazila’s Baldipukur area, after the driver of one of the buses reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, around 8am on Sunday, said police and survivors.
Mithapukur police station OC Amirul Islam said five of the injured were in critical condition and undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
He said police and fire service were conducting rescue operations at the spot.
Aminul and Salam, two injured passengers of one of the buses, said their driver was driving recklessly since the journey started from Dhaka. After crossing Bogura, the driver was seen dozing off at the wheel.
“We and some other passengers had warned him multiple times. The accident happened because the driver fell asleep and lost control,” they said.
According to locals and police, six passengers of the Rangpur-bound Selfie Paribahan bus were found dead on the spot after it had collided head-on with the Dhaka-bound Joana Paribahan bus at Baldipukur.
Authorities could not identify the deceased immediately.
Rangpur Fire Service Deputy Director Shamsuzzaman said four of their units had started the rescue operation after they were dispatched to the scene. “We have so far recovered six bodies, including the driver, and sent 40 injured to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Six of them were critically injured.”
According to the hospital’s emergency department, 30 of the injured were released after they were given first aid.
“But six critically injured people have been admitted to the hospital,” said Dr Shamsul from the emergency department.
