At least 20 people were injured in a three-vehicle collision involving two passenger buses and an oil tanker at Gouranadi upazila in Barishal district on Saturday.
The incident occurred on the Barishal-Dhaka highway around 11:30 AM on Saturday near Baichkhola area of the upazila.
Among the injured, 13 people in critical condition were rushed to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) by Fire Service and Highway Police personnel.
The accident caused a complete halt to traffic on the highway, leading to an 8-kilometer-long tailback on both sides. Long-distance travelers faced severe delays, with many stranded for over two and a half hours. Efforts to clear the highway and restore traffic flow are ongoing, with the military and Highway Police actively involved in the operation.
According to Md. Bipul Hossain, Station Officer of Gournadi Fire Service, the collision involved two passenger buses from Shyamoli and SE Transport services, along with an oil tanker. "The Shyamoli bus was blocking the road, causing the traffic jam. We immediately evacuated 13 critically injured passengers and sent them to the hospital," he added.
Md. Aminur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Gournadi Highway Police Station, stated, "We are working to remove the bus from the highway and normalize traffic flow. Once the vehicles are cleared, they will be seized for further legal action."
