GOPALGANJ, March 1, 2020 (BSS) – Five people were killed when a private car plunged into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Chhagol Chhera area under Muksudpur upazila of the district this afternoon.
According to locals and police, the accident occurred at about 3.30pm when a Dhaka-bound speedy private car (Dhaka Metro Ga-43-1457) plunged into a roadside ditch after hitting a tree as its driver lost control over the steering. Plunging into the ditch, the car caught fire due to cylinder explosion.
Inspector Abul Bashar of Sindhiaghat River Police Station, who was on duty in the area at that time, said, a serious fire, broke out from the car just after hitting it to the roadside tree and engulfed the entire car.
On hearing the hue and cry of the passengers and witnessing the flame of the car, pedestrians and locals rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire.
Being informed, fire fighters doused the fire after fighting for nearly half an hour.
Three persons died on the spot receiving serious burn injuries inside the car and two others were rescued.
They were taken to nearby Bhanga Upazila Health Complex for treatment.
The injured two were identified as Shahin, 35, and Masud,30, from Faridganj of Chandpur district but within an hour, both of them succumbed to their burn injuries.
The car and bodies of the ill-fated passengers were initially kept at Bhanga Highway Police Station.