Fire caused by Bus-microbus collision leaves 6 dead

At least six people were killed as a microbus caught fire after colliding head-on with a bus on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Bijoynagar upazila of Brahmanbaria early today.

Four others were severely injured as the Dhaka-bound bus of Limon Paribahan collided with the Sylhet-bound microbus in Bhati-Kalisheema area around 2:30am, reports our local correspondent quoting Premdhan Majumdar, sub-inspector of Khatihata Highway Police Station.

The deceased were identified as the driver of the micro-bus, Sohan, 20, and its passengers Harun Mia, 40, Shakil Mia, 25, Sagar, 22, Rifat, 16, and Emon Mia, 19, the SI said.

Five of the deceased were burnt to death on spot as the gas cylinder of the micro-bus exploded due to the collision. Another died on the way to the hospital, the SI added.

The four injured—Shahin, 30, Bijoy, 22, Abir, 35, and Jisan, 25, were rushed to Brahmanbaria General Hospital from where they were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

All of the deceased were residents of Narayanganj's Deuli village under Bandar Police Station. They were travelling to Sylhet in order to pay visit to Hazrat Shah Jalal's shrine there, police also said.

The Limon Paribahan bus fell into a road-side ditch following the incident. No injuries of the Bus's passengers were reported yet.

Meanwhile, a six-kilometre tailback was created on both sides of the highway following the incident. The vehicular movement became normal again after the micro-bus was removed from the scene around 8am, highway police said.