The death toll from a collision between a private car and a gas cylinder-laden truck on the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway has risen to five after another victim died while undergoing treatment at Faridpur Medical College Hospital on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred around 4:00am on the Bhanga-bound lane of the Dhaka-Khulna highway in the Maligram area of Bhanga upazila.
According to Fire Service and police sources, a private car travelling from Dhaka to Jashore crashed into the rear of a truck loaded with gas cylinders that was standing in the same lane. The impact left the car severely mangled and trapped beneath the truck.
Six people were injured in the crash. Rescuers took them to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared four of the victims dead.
The remaining two injured passengers were later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. One of them succumbed to injuries at around 7:30 am, raising the death toll to five.
Confirming the incident, Bhanga Fire Service Station Officer Abu Jafar said Fire Service personnel and police rushed to the scene after receiving information and carried out rescue operations.
Shibchar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mizanur Rahman said the identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed.
“We are trying to identify the victims through multiple channels with assistance from other police units,” he said.
The damaged private car and the truck have been seized and taken to Shibchar Highway Police Station. Legal proceedings are underway.