College girl killed, 8 others hurt as tree falls on temple

A college girl was killed and eight others injured as a banyan tree fell on a temple at Damol Malipara village under Haripur upazila of the district yesterday. The temple was badly damaged.  

The victim, Pinki Rani,18, daughter of Roben Chandra of Nonduar village under Ranishankoil upazila, was a first year HSC student at Ranishankoil Degree College.

Police and witnesses said a three-day-long Hari kirtan is being held at the temple. When the devotees were performing kirtan around 1:00pm, a banyan tree adjacent to the temple fell on it (temple), leaving nine people, including Pinki, injured.

On information, fire fighters from Pirganj Fire Service and Civil Defence Station went to the spot and rescued the girl and the injured people. Pinki succumbed to her injuries on the way to hospital.

The injured are taking treatment at different hospitals in the district.

 Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mostafizur Rahman and Officer-in-Charge of Haripur Police Station Akhtaruzzaman visited the spot in the afternoon.