2 killed as bus crushes battery-run van in Kushtia

The deceased were identified as Kamrul Islam, driver of the van from Naoda Azampur village, and passenger Bhanumati, 55, of Swastipur village in Kushtia Sadar. Bhanumati’s daughter Hasina was critically injured in the accident.

According to witnesses, the van was carrying several passengers when its axle broke, leaving it stranded on the road. A Meherpur-bound Shyamoli Paribahan bus coming from behind then crashed into the vehicle, leaving it badly damaged. Bhanumati died at the scene.

Police and fire service personnel rescued the victims and took the injured to Mirpur Upazila Health Complex. Kamrul and Hasina were later shifted to Kushtia 250-bed General Hospital as their conditions deteriorated.

Kamrul died shortly after being taken to the hospital’s ICU, said the hospital’s Resident Medical Officer Dr Iqbal Hossain.

Mirpur Police Station Officer in-Charge Md Shahidul Islam confirmed the incident, saying that, legal proceedings were underway and the cause of the accident was being investigated.