The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Comilla

Ten passengers of a bus burnt to death and 30 others suffered injuries as it went up in flames following collision with an acid-carrying truck on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Korpai area under Burichong upazila yesterday.

Police and witnesses said the fatal accident occurred as the bus of Unique Paribahan, bound for Chittagong from Dhaka, rammed into a truck carrying acid containers at about 3:30pm.

"A violent head-on collision took place between the two vehicles as the driver of the Dhaka-bound truck from Chittagong suddenly took right turn in a bid to save a female passer-by," police said, quoting witnesses. "Soon the bus caught fire, as acid poured into the bus from broken containers," says a spot account of the accident. Five of the male passengers burnt to death on the spot while 35 others were injured.

The injured were admitted to Comilla Combined Military Hospital and Comilla Medical College Hospital. Five of the injured died after admission to Comilla Medical College Hospital.

Condition of eight of the injured was stated to be critical. The injured passengers also sustained acid burns.

Identities of the victims were not immediately available.

On information, two fire-fighting units from the district town and Chandina upazila rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze after an hour-long frantic fight.

Vehicular movement on the highway remained suspended for about one and a half hour following the accident.

Local administration and police officials also visited the spot.