Two female passengers were killed on the spot and 30 more got injured on Monday, as a bus overturned near Moutabari area on Chandpur-Comilla local highway of Chandpur’s Shahrasti upazila.

The deceased were identified as Biva Rani Dash, 62, from Naora village of Shahrasti upazila and Geeta Rani Bhowmik, 65, from Comilla’s Nimsar area.

Also read: 2 killed in Narsingdi road crash 

Shahrasti police station’s Officer-in-Charge A. Mannan said a Chandpur-bound bus of ‘Bogdad Transport’ was coming from Comilla carrying 40 passengers. Around 11pm while crossing a culvert near Moutabari area, the driver lost control and the bus fell in the canal beside.

Locals rushed to rescue the passengers. Informed, Shahrasti station police and Shahrasti-Hajiganj fire service’s rescue team jointly rescued the stuck passengers and immediately sent them to hospital, said OC A. Mannan.

Shahrasti Upazila Health Complex’s doctor Jahanara Aktar said both the female passengers died on the spot. Three passengers including females are admitted in the hospital with severe injuries.

Also read: Road crashes kill seven in three districts

The hospital emergency department’s assistant informed that 15 passengers from the accident got released after taking primary medications.

484 killed in January

At least 484 people were killed and 673 injured in 427 road accidents throughout the country in January this year.

The rate of accidents rose 25.58% and fatalities 8.76% compared to the same period of last year, according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

At least 445 lives were lost in 340 road accidents in January last year, said the RSF on Saturday.

Between January 1 and January 31 of this year, 168 people were killed in 159 motorcycle accidents – 37.23% of total road accidents.

Also read: Road crashes killed 484 in Jan 2021

And 53 drivers and helpers were killed during the same period of this year – 10.95% of total fatalities.

And 153 accidents – 35.83% – occurred on highways, 107 – 25.05% – took place on regional roads, and 11 – 2.57% – on other roads.

Also, the highest number of accidents took place in Dhaka division and the lowest in Sylhet division.

Unfit vehicles, reckless driving, and disregard for traffic rules were among the reasons behind the accidents.

RSF came up with the findings based on the reports of seven daily newspapers, five online portals and television channels.

Also, 5,227 people died on Bangladeshi roads in 4,702 accidents in 2019, said Nirapad Sarak Chai.