Four Killed in Bus-Autorickshaw Collision in Patuakhali

Four people were killed after a passenger bus collided head-on with a battery-powered auto-rickshaw and plunged into a roadside ditch in Patuakhali on Saturday night.

The accident occurred around 11:40pm at Dhalu Gazi’s intersection near Basak Bazar on the Dhaka-Kuakata highway in Patuakhali Sadar upazila.

The deceased were identified as Jahangir Hawladar, 35, of Badarpur village in Sadar upazila; Tithi, 23, of Bilbilas village in Bauphal upazila; Kaiyum Paida, 50, of Amkhola village in Galachipa upazila; and Shilpi Rani, 40, of Char Ani Bauria village in the same upazila.

According to police and local residents, a Dhaka-bound bus travelling from Taltali in Barguna was carrying around 35 passengers when it collided with an auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction near the petrol station intersection.

The impact caused both vehicles to lose control and fall into a roadside ditch. The auto-rickshaw became trapped underneath the bus and was badly crushed.

Police and Fire Service personnel rushed to the scene and began a rescue operation with assistance from local residents. Three bodies were initially recovered from the scene, all reportedly passengers of the auto-rickshaw. A fourth body was later found underneath the bus after it was lifted with a police recovery vehicle.

The bodies were taken to the morgue at Patuakhali Medical College Hospital for autopsy. The injured were taken to the hospital and nearby clinics for treatment.

Sub-Inspector Md Bellal Hossain of Sadar Police Station said the bus was lifted with a recovery vehicle and the fourth body was found underneath it.

Officer-in-Charge Md Moniruzzaman said the bodies were kept at the hospital morgue and would be handed over to the families after the autopsies.

Police and Fire Service personnel continued checking the bus and the surrounding area to determine whether anyone else was trapped or missing.