14 dead as truck, pick-up collide on Dhaka-Sylhet highway
Thursday, 8 June 2023
SYLHET, July 07 (Agencies): At least 14 people were dead and ten others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van on Sylhet-Dhaka highway at Nazir Bazar in Dakkhin Surma upazila on Wednesday.
The accident occurred around 5:30 am when the sand-carrying truck collided with a pickup van with construction workers in Kutubpur area, leaving 11 people dead and 12 others injured, said Md Samsuddoha, officer-in-charge of Dakkhin Surma Police Station.
The deceased were identified as Rashid Ali, 25, son of Late Sajib Ali of Bhatipara village in Derai upazila under Sunamganj district, Dulam Mia, 26, son of Late Harun Mia of Muradpur village in Shantiganj upazila, Shahin Mia, 40, son of Wahab Ali of Babangaon village of the same upazila, Haris Mia, 65, son of Late Shishu Mia of Alinagar village in Derai upazila, Amina Begum, wife of Abdur Rahim of Haldiura village in Chunarughat upazila under Habiganj district, Sayed Noor, 50, son of late Mofiz Mia of Bhatipara village in Derai upazila, Awlad Hossain, 60, son of late Awlad Ullah of Taleratan village in Shantiganj upazila, Eklim Mia, 55, son of Late Salim Uddin of Patharia village in Dirai upazila, Sijil Mia, 55, son of Barik Ullah of Gachia village, Saurabh Mia, 27, son of Siraj Mia of Bhatipara village, Islam Mia, 27, son of Islam Uddin of Bharhatta upazila under Netrokona district, Meher, 24, daughter of Shamsher Nur of Bhatipara village in Derai upazila, Dudu Mia, 40, son of Sona Mia of Madhupur village in Derai upazila and Badshah, 22, son of Shahjahan of the same village.
The injured were taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared four of them dead.
The pickup van with 20-22 construction workers were heading towards Tajpur.
Recounting the deadly collision, Pallab Ahmad, a passenger on the pick-up who was hospitalised, said the truck was on the wrong side of the road as it hurtled towards the van.
"Then, there was a loud bang. The truck was speeding. The driver seemed to have fallen asleep," he told reporters.
The pick-up overturned on impact, while the truck was left in a crumpled heap.
"I hurt my head in the process. I don't remember anything after that," said Pallab.
Traffic was halted on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway due to the accident, causing long tailbacks on both sides of the accident site