Joy turns to sorrow

A bus, with 65 students and 10-12 teachers of a high school, was going to a picnic spot in Panchagarh yesterday.

On the way, one of the students of Rosea High School lost his life instantly as the bus fell into a roadside ditch in Kalitala Rowshonpur village.

The deceased, Sajib Singh (12), was a class six student. Twenty-four were also injured in the accident, said police.

The accident happened around 11am as the driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle, said Jahirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tentulia Police Station. During the accident, the vehicle was plying on a clay road, he added.

On information, firefighters rushed to the spot, rescued the injured and took them to a local hospital.

Of the injured, head teacher Belal Hossain, was sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

In Patuakhali, a bus owner was killed and 30 others injured as the bus fell into a ditch beside Patuakhali-Kuakata road in the town's Kalikapur area yesterday.

Of the injured, three were sent to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition. The rest were undergoing treatment at Patuakhali General Hospital.

The deceased -- Anando Das, 48, owner of the bus “Khan Classic” -- was from Gulishakhali village in Barguna's Amtali upazila, said Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Patuakhali Police Station.

[Our correspondents from Thakurgaon and Patuakhali contributed to the report]