Dhaka: At least eight passengers were injured when a Dhaka-bound bus fell into a roadside ditch and overturned in Chandina upazila of Cumilla on Friday morning. The incident occurred on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, causing significant disruption and concern among the local community.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the 'Evergreen' bus had departed from Cox's Bazar and was traveling towards Dhaka with 25 passengers on board. As the vehicle approached the Kurerpar area of Kerankhal union in Chandina around 7:00 am, a brake failure led to the driver losing control, resulting in the bus veering off the road and overturning into a ditch.
Locals who witnessed the accident quickly responded, assisting the injured and transporting them to the Chandina Upazila Health Complex for necessary medical treatment. Fortunately, none of the injuries were severe, and all affected passengers were able to leave the hospital after receiving primary care, as confirmed by Md Ashraf Uddin, sub-inspector of the Eliotganj Highway Police outpost.
The bus supervisor, Mashrafi, mentioned that one of the bus's tyres had been replaced earlier in Satkania of Chattogram due to deflation. He added that the accident unfolded suddenly when the brakes failed near Kurerpar, emphasizing that there were 25 passengers on board at the time.
The Chandina Fire Service later assisted in salvaging the bus from the ditch around 12:30 pm, ensuring the highway was clear for traffic to resume. The incident has raised concerns about vehicle maintenance and road safety among regular commuters on this busy route.