A passenger bus carrying nearly 50 people plunged into a roadside ditch in Kushtia’s Khoksa upazila on the Kushtia–Rajbari regional highway today, leaving at least four people dead and around 25 injured.
The accident occurred around 11:30 am near the Shialdangi Mosque area in Khoksa.
Kushtia Highway Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Russell Hoaasin said that four deaths have so far been confirmed.
The deceased were identified as Nabil. 28, son of Junaid of Faridpur Bazar, and Rafiqul Islam 60, son of the late Rafal Malitha of Hatboalia village in Chuadanga district. In addition, Rafia 15, daughter of Ruhul Amin of Philipnagar in Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia, and an unidentified man 45 died on the way to Kushtia General Hospital.
According to police and local sources, a Tanha Paribahan bus travelling from Rajbari to Kushtia lost control while attempting to avoid a van on the road. In the process, it collided with a sand-laden truck coming from the opposite direction before veering off the highway and falling into a ditch.
The Highway police official said local residents, police, and fire service personnel carried out rescue operations immediately after the crash. The injured were rushed to Khoksa Upazila Health Complex and Kushtia General Hospital for treatment.
Dr. Md. Ariful Haque, Health and Family Planning Officer of Khoksa Upazila, said two people were killed on the spot, while another one at his hospital.
Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Dr. Iqbal Hasan of Kushtia General Hospital said one woman among the four critically injured patients later died at the hospital. The remaining three are currently undergoing treatment.
Among the injured are Ramzan Ali (33), Swapna (15), Ashik (24), Lima (14), and Shahin (34), along with several others. The injured are being treated at Khoksa Upazila Health Complex and Kushtia General Hospital.