2 killed, 20 hurt as student tour bus plunges into ditch

Two people were killed and at least 20 others injured after a bus carrying students, teachers and guardians on an educational tour plunged into a roadside ditch and overturned in Satkania upazila of Chattogram early Saturday.

The accident occurred around 3:45AM on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway, south of the Keranihat Railbit area in Khuniyabottola, police said.

The bus was travelling from Cumilla to Cox's Bazar with students, teachers and guardians of Bakshimool Islamia Sunnia Senior Madrasa in Burichang upazila. It had left for the destination around 10pm on Friday.

According to police, the bus lost control after reaching the Keranihat area, fell into a roadside ditch and overturned.

The deceased were identified as Sakhawat Hossain Israfil, 56, son of late Yunus Mia of Malapara village in Brahmanpara upazila, and Sohana Afroz, 45, wife of Rezaul Karim of Jagatpur village in Burichang upazila.

Following the accident, police from Dohazari Highway Police Station, firefighters from Satkania Fire Service and local residents rushed to the scene and rescued the injured.

They were taken to several nearby hospitals, including Ash-Shefa Hospital, Al-Hayat Hospital and Ma-O-Shishu Hospital in Keranihat.

Israfil and Sohana were later shifted to Satkania Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty physicians declared them dead.

Other injured passengers were sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and other healthcare facilities for treatment.

Dohazari Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nurul Absar said a police team reached the scene immediately after receiving information about the accident and joined the rescue operation.

The accident-involved bus has been seized and taken into police custody, he said, adding that legal proceedings were underway.