18 dead, 51 injured in B'desh road accident

Dhaka, Apr 19 (UNI) At least 18 people died and 51 others were injured when a passenger bus turned turtle near Jamuna Bridge in northwestern Tangail district about 124 km from here early today, police and hospital sources said.

The accident occurred at about 0645 hrs (local time) as the drowsing driver lost control over the steering.

The bus overturned and fell on rail tracks, injured passengers said.

Sixteen people died on the spot and two in Tangail hospital.

Fifty one injured passengers were admitted to the hospital with fractured limbs and legs.

Survivors said the passengers were mostly day farm labourers, coming from poverty stricken northern Bhurungamari sub-district of Kurigram district to cut paddy in Dhaka, Narshingdhi and other adjacent districts.

The accident was the second in three days time in the same district. Seventeen people were killed and 21 injured when their bus crashed into a train at Rajabari in Kalihati sub-district of Tangail district on Wednesday.

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