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24 people killed in road accident in Bangladesh

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-28 14:55

DHAKA -- Twenty-four people were killed and at least 8 others injured as a truck overturned into a roadside ditch Sunday morning in central Bangladesh's Tangail district, 92 km northwest of capital Dhaka, local officials said.

Tangail Deputy Commissioner (head of district) Maksudur Rahman Patwari told Xinhua on phone that the accident took place at about 9:30 a.m. local time (03:30 GMT) when the driver of the truck lost control of steering, killing 23 on the spot and injuring 9 others.

He said the injured people were rushed to a local hospital while another died later in the hospital. And condition of two injured was stated to be critical.

Chief of police in Tangail district Md. Abdul Mannan told Xinhua earlier that the deep fog in the winter morning seems to be the main reason behind the accident.

He said the truck were carrying some day labors and construction materials from southeastern port city of Chittagong to northwestern Bogra district town.

Earlier, local TV channel ATN reported that 25 people were killed in the accident.

Bangladesh has one of the highest fatality rates for road accidents in the world. According to official statistics, more than 10,000 people are killed in various accidents every year.