Bus plunges down ravine in southeastern Bangladesh, killing 17

Bus plunges down ravine in southeastern Bangladesh, killing 17

2012-01-15 06:31:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

DHAKA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 17 people were killed early Saturday morning when a passenger bus plunged down a ravine in southeastern Bangladesh, police said. Dozens more were injured.

The accident happened at around 8 a.m. local time when the vehicle plunged down a 500 feet (150 meters) deep ravine in Bandarban, a district in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. The bus, which was heading towards Bandarban town, was carrying more than 40 people.

A police spokesman said about a dozen bodies were recovered from the scene, while several others died at a nearby hospital, bringing the death toll to 17. About twenty-five others were also rushed to nearby hospitals, including some who were reported to be in a critical condition.

Service members from the Bangladesh Army as well as police forces took part in the rescue operation and were assisted by locals. The bus was carrying students and their guardians who were returning to various schools after their annual vacation.

Police said visibility in the area was poor as a result of dense fog and may have caused the accident.

Road accidents are common in Bangladesh and many are blamed on reckless driving, poor road conditions and old vehicles. It is estimated that road accidents claim at least 13,000 lives a year and leave hundreds of thousands injured in the Asian country.

In July 2011, at least 53 people were killed when the driver of a truck lost control and plunged into a pond in the southeastern region of Bangladesh. The truck was carrying around 80 school children who were returning home after winning a district inter-school football championship.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-01-15