2 killed, 30 injured as study tour bus plunges into pond in Chattogram

Two people were killed and at least 30 injured when a bus carrying madrasah teachers, students and guardians from Cumilla to Cox’s Bazar plunged into a roadside pond in Satkania, Chattogram, early today (7 November).

The accident occurred around 4am near the Keranihat railway crossing in the Railbit area of Satkania upazila on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway.

The deceased were identified as Sohana Afroz, 45, a teacher at Bakshimool Sunnia Islamia Senior Madrasah in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila, and Sakhawat Hossain Israfil, 56, the husband of another teacher.

Mohammad Nurul Absar, officer-in-charge of Dohazari Highway Police Station, told The Business Standard that teachers, students and guardians from the madrasah were travelling to Cox’s Bazar in two buses for a study tour.

“The second bus lost control and fell into a roadside pond after crossing the railway crossing in Satkania,” he said, adding that the two passengers died on the spot.

“The driver might have dozed off at the wheel, causing the accident. The driver fled the scene after the crash,” the police officer said.

More than 50 people were travelling in the two buses, according to Dohazari Highway Police. Local residents and workers from a nearby brick kiln rushed to the scene and helped rescue passengers from the bus.

The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and nearby hospitals for treatment.

Dohazari Highway Police, Satkania Police and Fire Service personnel later joined the rescue operation.

Police recovered the bus and took it to the police station. The bodies are in the custody of Dohazari Highway Police, while legal proceedings over the accident are under way, OC Nurul Absar said.