8 die, 20 hurt as bus falls off bridge in Faridpur

August 25, 2019 00:00:00

Rescue workers search for survivors after a bus plunged off a bridge into a ditch at Dhuldi on Dhaka-Faridpur highway on Saturday — Focus Bangla

At least eight people have been killed and 20 others injured after a bus veered off a bridge and plunged into a ditch in Faridpur, report agencies.

The accident took place on the Dhaka-Faridpur Highway in Dhuldi around 2:30pm on Saturday, said Kotwali Police OC FM Nasim.

The casualties could not be identified immediately but the authorities expected the death toll to rise.

"A bus operated by Comfort Line transport group was travelling to Gopalganj's Patkati from Dhaka when it swerved out of control and slammed into the railing of a bridge before falling into the ditch below," said OC Nasim.

Six people were killed on the spot, he added.

The injured were rescued and taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital where two more passengers died.

Faridpur region's Highway Police Superintendent Mostafizur Rahman said the driver lost control when allowing a speeding motorcycle to pass.