Death toll rises to 17 in Tangail truck accident
Photo: Agamir Somoy
The death toll from a horrific truck accident on the Dhaka–Tangail–Jamuna Bridge highway has risen to 17, with at least 10 others injured.
The accident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Monday (May 25) in the Saratiail area of Kalihati upazila in Tangail, on the northbound lane. A truck loaded with steel rods lost control and overturned into a roadside ditch, resulting in heavy casualties.
According to local residents and police sources, a large number of home bound Eid holiday travellers were on the rod-laden truck. Most of them were asleep at the time of the accident, which is believed to be a major reason for the high number of fatalities. When the truck overturned, many passengers were crushed under the vehicle and the steel rods.
After receiving the news, members of Elenga Fire Service, Jamuna Bridge East Police Station, and the Jamuna Bridge authorities quickly arrived at the scene and began rescue operations. Fifteen bodies were recovered from the site, and at least 10 injured people were taken to Tangail General Hospital.
Due to the rescue work, traffic on the Dhaka-bound lane of the highway was temporarily halted from 4:25 a.m. to 5:20 a.m. Later, vehicles heading toward Dhaka were diverted through the Jamuna Bridge East Bhuiyapur link road, while northbound vehicles used the old road. As a result, the situation gradually returned to normal, and no major traffic congestion was reported.
Officer-in-Charge Khandaker Fuad Ruhani of Jamuna Bridge East Police Station confirmed that traffic on the highway is now relatively normal. He said the rescue operation has been completed and necessary legal procedures are underway.
Following the incident, the Superintendent of Police of Tangail visited the scene and supervised the rescue efforts. According to the police’s initial assessment, the accident occurred after the driver lost control of the truck.
