At least five people were killed and one injured in a head-on collision between a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a pickup van in the Chairman Para area of Betbunia in Kaukhali upazila on the Rangamati–Chittagong road.
The accident occurred around 10am on Saturday.
Confirming the incident, Kaukhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saifur Rahman Sohag said that three people died on the spot and two more died after being taken to the hospital. He said that he was on his way to the scene and would share further details later. He could not provide more information at the time.
According to reports, police from the Betbunia outpost and locals rescued the injured and sent them to various hospitals.
Meanwhile, according to local eyewitnesses and police sources, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw heading from Betbunia, Kaukhali towards Chittagong and a pickup van heading from Chittagong towards Rangamati collided head-on, resulting in the deaths of three people at the scene.
Two others died after being taken to the hospital. Among the injured, one person's condition is critical, and they have been transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. The CNG auto-rickshaw was severely damaged in the collision with the pickup.
The deceased have been identified as: Torap, 50, from Chowdhury Para of Rauzan in Chittagong, Nur Nahar Begum, 40, from West Monairtek in Kaukhali, Rangamati, Mahmudur Rahman Bacchu, 55, from Ichapur area of Chittagong's Hathazari upazila, and Joynal Abedin from Rauzan. One deceased person could not yet be identified.
Police said that the bodies of three victims have been brought to the Betbunia police outpost in Kaukhali. One body has been kept at the Rauzan Upazila Health Complex and another at JK Memorial Hospital in Rauzan. The injured person has been sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, Abdus Rahim, husband of the deceased Nur Nahar Begum, said: "My wife had gone to Betbunia market in the morning to shop. After shopping, while returning home by CNG auto-rickshaw, a pickup van hit the auto-rickshaw, causing her to die on the spot."
Additional Superintendent of Police Zahidul Islam of Rangamati Kaptai Circle said: "We, along with Kaukhali police and the Assistant Commissioner of the upazila administration, have visited the accident site. We have confirmed the deaths of five people in this accident. We have also gathered information about the injured person. The legal procedures related to this road accident are ongoing."
