A devastating head-on collision between two buses on the Pabna-Dhaka Highway in Sathia Upazila claimed the lives of four people and left 25 others injured on Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves through the district.
The accident occurred near Madhpur Sholabaria Bridge at around 7:30 am when Shahzadpur Travels and Machhranga Paribahan buses collided head-on under unclear circumstances.
Initial reports suggest that one person died instantly at the scene, while 28 others sustained injuries of varying severity.
Among the deceased are Kamal Hossain, 41, the driver of Shahzadpur Travels; Zihad Hossain, 27, assistant driver of Machhranga Paribahan; and two passengers of Machhranga Paribahan — Alamgir Hossain, 35, son of Khorshed Alam, and Alef Uddin, 36, son of Abdul Majan.
“The buses were travelling in opposite directions when they collided violently,” said Mustafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sathia Police Station. “One person died on the spot, and several others were critically injured. Two more succumbed to their injuries while being transferred to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, and one more died on the way to Pabna General Hospital.”
At Pabna General Hospital, resident medical officer Zahidul Islam said 25 injured passengers are receiving treatment. “Some of them are in critical condition and under close observation,” he added.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes immediately after the collision, with passengers trapped inside the mangled buses and local residents rushing to help. “It was horrifying. People were screaming and bleeding. We tried to pull them out and call for ambulances,” said a passerby who helped at the scene.
The incident has raised questions about road safety and bus management on the busy Pabna-Dhaka route, which sees hundreds of vehicles daily. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, including potential overspeeding, driver fatigue, and road conditions.
“This is a tragic reminder of the dangers on our highways,” Rahman added. “We are conducting a thorough investigation and will take necessary action to prevent such incidents in the future.”
As rescue and medical efforts continue, families of the victims are in mourning, and the local community is calling for stricter traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies on the highway.