10 deaths confirmed: Body formed to probe Jhalakati crash

The road transport ministry on Wednesday formed an investigation committee to probe a fatal road accident which took place at Rajapur Upazila in Jhalakati district killing at least 10 people on Tuesday. Confirming that the death toll in the fatal crash has reached 10, Jhalakati's Assistant Superintendent of Police AFM Anowar Hossain said fatality may rise further as many of the 19 injured persons were in critical conditions. Echoeing him, Jhalakati’s Deputy Commissioner Md Shakhawat Hossain said the injured were rescued and rushed to different hospitals. He said toll may rise as many were injured seriously. He also confirmed that an investigation committee had been formed to probe the incident and the committee had been told to submit report within the next 24 hours. Rajapur police station’s OC Masuduzzaman said the death toll climbed to 10, with four of the victims being women. Tuesday afternoon's crash took place on the Khulna-Barisal Highway at Rajapur's Biswasbari when a front tyre of Barisal-bound ‘Dhansirhi Paribahan’ bus had burst before it fell into a ditch by an under-construction culvert. Five died on the spot. Firefighters Rab and police personnel with the help locals rescued at least 22 injured passengers of the bus and admitted them to Rajapur Health Complex, Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital and Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital where five others succumbed to their injuries, according to a private TV channels.