Natore accident: 8 bodies identified; Probe body formed

Authorities have identified eight of the deceased, out of 14, and formed a seven-member committee to investigate the accident involved in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Natore's Bonpara. the

The collision occurred around 4:30AM on Tuesday  in front of a police investigation centre on the Natore-Pabna highway. Nine people died at the scene, while five others were declared dead by doctors after being taken to hospital.

The identities of eight victims have so far been confirmed. They were Samad Fakir, 70, of Jajira village in Jajira upazila of Shariatpur; Sohag Hossain, 30, son of Yunus Ali of Kajirhat village; Jewel Rana, 40, son of Zahur Uddin of Barkandi village; Shalal Molla, 45, of Dubisaheber village; Shahin Hossain, 25, of Kajirhat village; bus driver Sohel Rana, 40, son of Abdul Hakim of Farhadpur village in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi; Anwar Haque, 30, son of Babar Ali of Konopara village in Bagmara upazila; and Tasfia Khatun, 8, daughter of the late Shahidul Islam of Subidkhali village in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali.

Police and Fire Service officials said the RP Paribahan bus was travelling from Barguna to Chapainawabganj when it collided head-on with the sand-laden truck coming from the opposite direction.

The bodies of the deceased have been kept at Bonpara Highway Police Station. Authorities said the bodies could be handed over to their families without autopsies if the families requested it.

The injured are receiving treatment at various local clinics and hospitals, Natore Sadar Hospital and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.