8 killed, 12 injured in truck-pickup van collision in Sylhet

At least eight people were killed and 12 others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup van in southern Sylhet early Sunday (May 3).

The accident took place around 6:00am at Telibazar in South Surma upazila. All the victims were construction workers.

The identities of four of the deceased were immediately confirmed. They are Md. Suruj Ali, 60, of Bhatipara village in Dirai upazila of Sunamganj; Md. Munni, 35, of Setti village in the same upazila; Md. Faridul, 35, of Nurnagar area in Dirai upazila; and Md. Badrul, 30, of Lalargaon area under Jalalabad Police Station in Sylhet.

According to police and local sources, four workers died on the spot after a pickup van carrying labourers collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction. Four others critically injured were taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared them dead around 7:30am, bringing the total fatalities to eight.

Several victims have been identified as residents of Dirai upazila in Sunamganj district and nearby areas.

Md. Ashrafuzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dakshin Surma Police Station, said, "The pickup was heading towards Sunamganj from Sylhet carrying workers, while the truck loaded with jackfruit was coming from Chattogram towards Sylhet when the crash occurred."

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md. Manjurul Alam said, "Efforts are underway to identify all the deceased and recover details. The bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue for post-mortem examination."