14 killed in Jhalakathi road crash

At least 14 people have been killed and 20 others were injured as a speeding truck ploughed through several vehicles at the toll gate of Gabkhan Bridge on Barishal-Khulna Regional Highway in Jhalakathi.

The deceased are-They were identified as Nazrul Islam,35, of Gabkhan village, Shafiqul Majhi,50, of Ostakhan village, Atiqur Rahman Sadik,11, of Nawapara village, Imran Hossain, 40, of Southpur village under Rajapur upazila, Nurjahan, 7, and Tahmina, 25, of Talgachhia village under Kathalia upazila, Ibrahim Fakir, 40, of Uttampur village under Rajapur thana, Anwar, 55, Siam, 5, Refat, 3, Rozina, 38, Shahidul Islam, 45, Sohel Majhi, 30, and Miraz, 28.

Locals said at least 10 of the victims were guests of a bridal reception.

They met with the fatal crash around 2pm on Wednesday as their vehicles stopped at the toll gate of the bridge en route to the reception venue at Ostakhal village of Gabkhan union.

A truck loaded with cement crashed into our vehicles, pedestrians and toll workers, said Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station OC Shahidul Islam.

Superintendent of Jhalakathi Police Afruzul Haque said 12 people died on the spot while two succumbed to the injuries at hospital.

The injured persons were rushed to the Jhalakathti Sadar Hospital and Barishal Sher-e Bangla Medical College Hospital, he said.

Jhalakathi Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Officer Shafiqul Islam said initially, it was suspected that the cement-laden truck lost control after brake failure and rammed into the vehicles.

Three fire fighting units conducted the rescue operation, he said.

Jhalakathi Deputy Commissioner Farah Gul Nijhum said a four-member probe committee, headed by Jhalakathi Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Ruhul Amin, has been formed to investigate the incident.

The committee has been asked to submit a report within the next five working days, she said, adding that necessary action will be taken after the submission of the report.

She said the family members of each deceased will get Tk5 lakh, each injured person Tk1 lakh while those who lost limbs will get Tk3 lakh each.

Driver of the truck Al Amin, 29, from Jhalakathi sadar upazila, and helper Nazmul, 22, from Khulna, were detained in a drive carried out by the detective branch (DB) of Jhalakathi district police, said Afruzul Haque.