5 SSC examinees killed in Netrokona road crash

Five Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees were killed and 18 others injured in a road accident in Durgapur upazila of Netrakona yesterday.

The incident took place at Shantinagor area on the Birisihi-Netrakona road around 9:00pm, reports our Mymensingh correspondent quoting police.

One of the victims was identified as Ridoy Mia, 16, son of Romzan Ali of Shalihor village in Gouripur. Identities of the four others, all of them male, could not be known immediately.

"23 SSC examinations from different educational institutions in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh came to Birisiri for picnic travelling on two pick-up vans this morning [Saturday]," said Mahmuda Sharmin Nely, assistant superintendent of police (Durgapur-Kalmakanda Circle).

"When they were returning home, a Birisiri-bound truck from the opposite direction collided with the pick-up vans, and another sand-laden truck hit the vans from behind, leaving three dead on the spot and injuring others," said Superintendent of Netrakona Police Md Akbar Ali Munshi.

Of the injured, two died on the way to a local hospital, said the SP.

The other injured were admitted to Purbadhala Health Complex and Durgapur Upazila Health Complex in Netrakona. Of them, three were referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated, the official also said.

On information, police and fire service personnel from Durgapur and Mymensingh rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies.

Police also seized the trucks and arrested one of the drivers while the other managed to flee.

Md Anwar Hossain, chairman of Gouripur union parishad said most of the victims belong to Shalihor village under the union, adding that he visited the spot soon after the incident.