5 killed in road crashes

Star Online Report

Five people were killed and 15 injured in separate road accidents in Pabna and Comilla Wednesday and Thursday.

Of the victims, three died in Comilla while two in Pabna.

In Comilla, two people were killed and two injured when Sylhet-bound Paharika Express from Chittagong hit a rawhide-laden pickup van Thursday morning.

The accident occurred around 10:50am as the train struck the van while it was crossing Tejerbajar Rail Crossing in Langolkot upazila, reports our Comilla correspondent.

The deceased are: Md Momin, driver of the van; and Abdul Malek, a fruit seller of the locality; said Shahid Ullah, an inspector of Laksham railway police.

Of the victims, Momin died on the spot while three injured van passengers including Malek were rushed to a local clinic.

Malek succumbed to his injuries in the clinic, the police official added.

In another accident in Chandina upazila of the district, a man was killed and 12 more injured as a Laxmipur-bound bus of Al-Baraka Paribahan from Dhaka ploughed through a tea stall around 9:10am.

Abul Kashem, 35, a resident of Chhoyghoria area of the upazila, who was at the stall, was killed on the spot as the bus driver lost his control over the steering, said Amar Pal, a sergeant of Maynamati Highway Police.

Twelve more people were also injured in the accident, the police officer added.

The bus driver however managed to flee the scene immediately after the accident.

Our Pabna correspondent adds: Two motorcyclists were killed on Rajshahi-Pabna highway at Ishwardi upazila of the district Wednesday evening.

Deceased are: Md Raja Bhuiyan, 18, son of Joynul Bhuiyan of Atghoria upazila in the district; and Md Moti, 22, son of Mahamud Ali of Narayanpur village in Boraigram upazila of Natore.

Another man also sustained serious injuries as the two bikes collided head-on around 9:00pm, said Bimal Kumar, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police Station.

The injured was rushed to Boraigram Upazila Health Complex in Natore where doctors declared Moti and Raja dead, the police official added.

He has been undergoing treatment in the health complex.