12 killed as 2 buses collide in Rangpur

At least 12 people were killed and 30 injured after two buses collided head-on in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila on the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway today.

Two buses -- one of Tripti Paribahan while another of Saimon Express --collided in Teromile area around 10:40am, Saifur Rahman, assistant superintendent (circle-B) of Rangpur district police, told The Daily Star.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Ali, 45, son of Younus Ali of Saidpur upazila, Abdul Matin, 32, son of Sabed Ali of Saidpur upazila, Jinnat Ara, 35, assistant teacher of Ikarchali Farukia Madrasa of Taraganj upazila, Sayeed Ali, 48, driver of Saimon Express, Chandan Roy, 30, son of Atul Chandra Roy of Chirirbandar upzila of Dinajpur, Tayab Ali, 45, driver of Tripti Paribahan, Akul Mia, 30, son of Bakkar Uddin of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur, Atwar Rahman, 43, son of Basir Uddin of Nilphamari Sadar upazila, Liton Mian, 22, son of Sakmal Ali of Nilphamari Sadar upazila.

However, the identities of the other three deceased could not be known immediately.

The injured were rushed to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital where condition of five persons was stated to be critical, our Rangpur correspondent reports quoting Md Abdul Latif Miah, officer-in-charge (OC) of Taraganj Police Station.

The bodies were taken to the hospital morgue for autopsy, the police official said.

Quoting witnesses and local people, the OC said, "The driver of Rangpur-bound Tripti Paribahan from Dinajpur lost control over the steering when its front (Right) tire got punctured and collided head-on with Panchagarh-bound Saimon Express from Dhaka at Teromile around 10:40am."

Rangpur Police Superintendent Md Abdur Razzak said that soon after the accident, Fire Service and Civil Defense members from Rangpur and Saidpur stations rushed to the spot and rescued the injured with the help of local people.

Meanwhile, agitating local people blockaded the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway for about two hours demanding punishment of the culprits.

Later, they withdrew the blockade after getting assurance from the local administration.