The death toll from a collision between a bus and a microbus on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway in Chittagong on Wednesday morning has risen to 10.
The accident occurred at around 7:15am in the Chunati Jangalia area of Lohagara upazila, reports Bangla Tribune.
Officials could not immediately confirm the identities of the deceased.
The Highway Police reported that seven people, including a child, three men and three women, had died on the spot.
One more person succumbed to injuries at Lohagara Upazila Health Complex, while two others, a man and a woman, died after being taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
“The collision happened between a Cox’s Bazar-bound Relax Transport bus and a Chittagong-bound microbus. Seven died on the spot, while three others died at the hospital,” said Dohazari highway police station Officer-in-Charge Shubharanjan Chakma.
According to Lohagara fire service team leader Rakhal Chandra Rudra, the accident involved two microbuses.
"Initially, a microbus collided head-on with the bus. Another microbus trailing behind then crashed into the wreckage, resulting in multiple fatalities, including the first microbus driver," he added.
SI Nurul Alam Ashik of CMCH police outpost confirmed that four injured victims had been taken to the hospital. "A woman and a man were declared dead upon arrival, while two others are receiving treatment," he said.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Satkania Circle) Toufiq-ul-Alam indicated that all deceased victims had been passengers of the first microbus. "They were returning from Cox’s Bazar. Except for the driver, they are likely from the same family. Their identities will be confirmed once relatives arrive," he said.
The Chunati Jangalia area has seen multiple road accidents recently.
On Monday, a head-on collision between a bus and a minibus left five young men dead and nine others injured.
Then, early on Tuesday, nine people were injured when two tourist microbuses overturned.
