Abdur Rahman Mintu :
Nine people were killed and at least 57 injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Rangpur’s Taraganj. The collision took place at the western end of Kharubhaj Bridge of Ikarchali Union of Rangpur-Dinajpur highway at around 12:15 on Sunday night. Five people were killed on the spot and four more died after being taken to the hospital, Taraganj Highway Police said.
According to Taraganj Highway police sources on Monday, after crossing the Kharuvaj Bridge not far from the highway police station, the front right wheel of Joana Paribahan bus running from Dhaka to Thakurgaon got busted and the driver of the bus lost control and went to the right side of the road. Meanwhile, a head-on collision took place with Islam Paribahan bus travelling from Dinajpur to Dhaka. Highway police and Taraganj Fire Service personnel immediately reached the spot and took part in the rescue operation amid heavy rain. Five dead bodies were recovered from the spot. Some people were rescued in critical condition and sent to Rangpur Medical College (Ramek) Hospital, where four others died. Another 57 injured people are under treatment at Taraganj Upazila Health Complex and Ramek Hospital.
The Highway Police also informed that Mohsin Hossain Sagar (40), son of Md. Maqbul Hossain from Kundul Purbapara village of Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari district, Anisur Rahman (48), son of deceased Kazhim Uddin of Kazipara village of Sayar union of Taraganj upazila, Majibar of Jhakuapara village of Hariarkuthi
union of upazila died at the scene. The bodies of Rahman’s son Anwar Hossain (35), Abdul Khalek (42), son of Feroza Begum and Shahidul Islam Khokon (42) from Bakla village of Shibaloy police station of Manikganj district and another unidentified person were recovered and brought to the highway police station. In the meantime, the family members of Sagar, Anisur and Anwar came to the police station and identified the body, and the body was handed over to the family.
According to highway police sources, after being taken to the hospital, Dhananjoy (45), son of deceased Vinod Chandra from Palashbari village of Kursha union of Taraganj upazila, Olivan Hasan Jewel (27), son of general secretary of Kamarpukur union Chhatra League of Syedpur upazila and Raihan Ali of Niamatpur village of the same union, head of Gaibandha district. Sadek Ali, son of Faraz Ali, a trader of North Bidari village of the upazila, and another unidentified person died. Their bodies are in Ramek Hospital Mortuary.
Highway Police OC Mahbub Morshed said that both the buses were very fast. Due to heavy rain at the time of the accident, the drivers could not control. We are not involved in immediate rescue operations. However, due to rain, the damage is more. Rangpur District Chhatra League President SM Sabbir Ahmed said that after hearing about the accident from the local Chhatra League leaders, Ramek rushed to the hospital at night. During this time, we provided the necessary medicines, saline, food and blood to the injured people. Our cooperation will continue. Chhatra League general secretary Tanim Ahsan Chapal himself said that he gave a bag of blood to a comatose patient under treatment.
