Nine killed as three-wheeler falls into ditch

Nine people were killed and five injured when a locally made three-wheeler carrying paddy overturned and plunged into a roadside ditch in Barik Bazar area of Chapainawabganj's Shibganj upazila yesterday.

Mahbub Alam Khan, additional superintendent of police, and locals said the accident occurred around 5:30am when the vehicle -- carrying some 15 people returning to Baliadighi after harvesting paddy -- reached Barik Bazar, overturned and plunged into a roadside ditch, killing seven on the spot and injuring six persons.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Kashem, Mohammad Babu, Mohammad  Tajamul, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Karim, Mohamad Minu, Ahad Ali, Abdul  Latif of Baliadighi village and Ataur Rahman of Lawghata village (whose  in-laws' house is in Baliadighi) under the upazila.

One of the injured, Ahad Ali, succumbed to his injuries on the way to Shibganj Upazila Health Complex.

Police recovered the bodies of eight victims and later handed them over to their families in the presence of upazila administration officials.

one such vehicle plies the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Tarabo area of Narayanganj, defying the ban. Photo: Rabiul Hasan/ File Photo

Deputy Assistant Director of Chapainawabganj Fire Service Mohammad Saber Ali Pramanik said another victim, Abdul Latif, also died on his way to the health complex and the body was later handed over to family members.

Pramanik also said carrying a load greater than the vehicle's capacity and the narrow road were the main reasons behind the accident.

The victims were returning to Baliadighi with paddy they got as part of their labour charge after harvesting paddy from Naogaon's Niamotpur upazila.

When informed of the accident, police and the fire service officials rushed to the spot and rescued five injured people, who were then taken to Shibganj Upazila Health Complex. On-duty doctors at the complex sent them to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital as their condition deteriorated.

Bodiur Rahman of Barik Bazar village, who witnessed the incident, said, "I went out of my house and saw the vehicle overturned in a roadside ditch and I shouted for help. Many people came forward to rescue them.

Bodiur said the road is very narrow.

Shakib Al Rabbi, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Shibganj upazila, said when handing the eight dead bodies to their family members, they also gave them TK 10,000 to each family.

They had also arranged ambulance to send injured persons to RMCH instantly, he said.