7 killed, 6 injured as truck overturns in Cumilla

Seven passengers travelling on a rice-laden truck were killed and six others seriously injured as the vehicle lost control and overturned on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Daudkandi early today.

The accident occurred at 3:10am in Hasanpur under Daudkandi Police Station.

The fatalities were confirmed by the officer-in-charge of Daudkandi Highway Police Station, Iqbal Bahar Majumdar.

The deceased have been identified as residents of Khalibpur village under Nawabganj Police Station in Dinajpur: Mohammad Afzal Hossain (35), son of Azad Hossain; Sohrab Hossain (40), son of Md. Alam and Salek (45), son of Fazlur Rahman.

Suman (21), son of one Palash; Abu Hossain, son of Majirul Islam; Abdur Rashid (55), son of Rakibullah; and on Bishu (35) were from Bhaighar village under Birampur Police Station in the same district.

Quoting witnesses and sources, police said a rice-laden truck travelling towards Chattogram lost control and veered off the road. At the time, 13 passengers were riding on top of the vehicle and were trapped underneath it after the crash when the vehicle overturned. Seven men were killed on the spot, while six others were injured.

The deceased and the injured were mainly agricultural labourers heading to Cumilla for farm work. The injured workers said the truck’s helper was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.

The injured were rescued and taken to a local hospital.

Fire Service and police personnel rushed to the scene rescued the survivors.

OC Iqbal Bahar said the damaged truck had been removed, and traffic movement had resumed on the highway. Legal procedures are underway.