At least 17 killed as bus falls into Jhalakathi pond

At least 17 people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured after a bus plunged into a roadside pond in the Chhatrakanda area of Jhalakathi Sadar upazila on Saturday.

Five of the deceased were identified as Sumaiya, 5, Samad Molla, 60, Tarik, 55, Shahin Molla, 33 and Abdullah, 7 while the identities of the others could not be known immediately, reports UNB. 

Among the victims, there were seven minors, and five women.

The Barishal-bound bus from Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur fell into the pond near the local union parishad office at around 9:55am. The driver was attempting to make way for an auto rickshaw on Jhalakathi-Pirojpur regional road, Jhalakathi Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Nasir Uddin said.

Dhaka Tribune

At least 35 passengers were injured in the accident.

The injured were taken to Jhalakathi District Hospital.

Local firefighting units are trying to recover the bus from the waterbody.

The bus ‘ Bashar Smriti Paribahan' with capacity of 35-40 passengers were carrying around 60-70 passengers, according to locals.

Our Barisal Correspondent Anisur Rahman Swapan contributed to the report.