At least 29 children killed in Bangladeshi road accident

[News_Editor]

At least 29 children killed in Bangladeshi road accident

2011-07-11 19:33:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH (BNO NEWS) -- At least 29 children were killed on Monday afternoon when a truck plunged into a pond in the southeastern region of Bangladesh, officials said.

The accident took place at around 2.45 p.m. local time when the vehicle, which was carrying between 70 and 80 school children, plunged into the pond in Abu Torab Borotakia, Mirsharai Upazila in Bangladesh's southeastern division of Chittatong, officials told the Daily Star newspaper.

The truck was carrying a group of children, most of them from the Abu Torab Government Primary School, who were returning from winning a district inter-school football championship in Mirsharai. The driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle when it reached the Abu Torab Bazar.

According to Aung Sha Thowal, Mirsarai Police Station's officer-in-charge in the accident's investigation, as of 5 p.m. local time, 29 recovered bodies belonged to children. However, as search and rescue teams continue their efforts at the scene, authorities fear the accident's death toll could rise.

Bangladeshi President Zillur Rahman voiced deep shock and sorrow at the death of school students in the tragic road accident. In a message of condolence, he prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls and expressed sympathy to the members of bereaved families.

Meanwhile, the country's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, also expressed deep shock and sorrow, expressing sympathy for the bereaved family members and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.

Zillur Rahman asked authorities to ensure proper treatment of the injured as Hasina ordered them to conduct a quick rescue operation.

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