Fatal Sylhet crash kills 8

SYLHET, May 3: What began as an ordinary early-morning commute for construction workers in Sylhet ended in sudden carnage on a bridge, leaving eight dead and several others fighting for life in hospital.

Among the dead is Pandab Biswas, 20, a young labourer who had left his village in Companiganj's Shibpur area just two weeks ago after an argument over work. He had walked away from home in anger, hoping to start over in the city.

He found work as a construction labourer and was staying at his aunt's home in Sylhet's Loharpara.

Early Sunday morning, he stepped out again for another day's work-unaware it would be his last journey.

Around 6am, a head-on collision between a pickup and a truck near Telibazar Bridge in South Surma upended lives in an instant.

Police and Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said about 20 construction workers were travelling in a pickup from Amberkhana Point towards Lalabazar, carrying a construction machine with them.

As the vehicle reached Telibazar Bridge, it crashed head-on into an oncoming truck loaded with jackfruit. The impact was devastating.

Workers said passengers were thrown violently from the pickup. Four people died on the spot, with four more declared dead after being taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

Others remain under treatment.

Pandab's uncle Pulin Biswas arrived at the hospital to receive the body of a nephew he says left home out of frustration, not ambition.    �"bdnews24