NATORE: At least 33 people, including four women were killed and more than 50 others injured in a deadly road accident on Banpara-Hatikumrul highway in Boraigram upazila here on Monday afternoon.

Witnesses said the tragic accident happened when Rajshahi-bound Keya Paribahan passenger bus from Dhaka collided head-on with Natore's Gurudaspur-bound local bus belonging to Othoi Paribahan at about 3.30pm at Boraigram crossing.

Among the victims 18 persons have so far been identified.

They are: Natore Boraigram Upazila's Jonail Degree College lecturer and Awami League leader Jamal Hossain, 40, his daughter Jannati, 5, Alaluddin of village Bajitpur, Atika Begum, wife of Abdur Rahman of village Sangrampur, Krishnapada Sarkar, 55, of village Khoksha, Jan Mohammad, 48, of village Indrapara, Ebad Ali, 45,  Sharifuddin, 30, Labu, 35, Alal, 55, Sohrab Hossain, 35, Aynal Haque, 35, Rubel Ali, 45 and Atahar Ali 50, of Shidhuli village in Gurudaspur upazila, Babul, 40 and Abdul Awal, 30 of village Brichapila, Mohona Khatun, 5, daughter of Abu Sayed of Teltupi village, and Othoi Paribahan driver Alam Hossain, 40.

Identities of other victims could not be known immediately.

The injured were admitted to different hospitals, including Natore Adhunik Sadar Hospital, Boraigram Upazila Health Complex and Bonpara Amina Hospital Ltd.

Additional Superintendent of Police Munshi Shahabuddin confirmed the matter.

After the accident, Natore's deputy commissioner Mashiur Rahman, Police Super Basudev Banik and Boraigram Upazila chairman Principal Ekramul Alam visited the spot.

Deputy Commissioner Mashiur Rahman said 22 bodies of the deceased have been kept at Bonpara Police Outpost after recovering them from the spot. At the same time, five among 20 injured admitted to Natore Adhunik Sadar Hospital succumbed to their injuries. Besides, one injured admitted to Gurudaspur Hospital also died.

The death toll may rise, he said.

Natore Fire Service, Highway Police and witnesses said said the deadly accident took place when Rajshahi-bound passenger coach belonging to Keya Paribahan from Dhaka collided head-on with Natore's Gurudaspur-bound local bus belonging to Othoi Paribahan at about 3.30pm at Boraigram crossing. At that time, the Keya Paribahan passenger coach was overtaking a truck coming from the opposite direction.

Mazedul Islam Nayan, a business of Boraigram, who was on board his private car behind the Keya Paribahan coach, said he suddenly heard a loud sound when the two buses collided with each other at Razzaker crossing on Bonpara-Hatikumrul highway and saw both the vehicles fell on two ditches along the highway.

"I also saw the injured and bodies of the victims were lying scattered on the highway. Receiving screaming of the injured, hundreds of local people rushed to the spot to rescue the injured," he said.

Meanwhile, the government on Monday formed a three-member probe committee with Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Ali of Natore as convener to investigate the causes behind the accident. Two other members of the committee are Natore's assistant police commissioner (Circle) and an assistant director of BRTA.

The committee has been asked to submit the report within three working days, said a press release of the Ministry of Road Communication and Bridges.

LY/NS/ZA