Online Desk 

The death toll from a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a sand-laden truck in Baraigram, Natore, has risen to 14. At least 30 people were injured in the accident.

The crash occurred around 4:30am on Tuesday (October 20) in the Sarkarpara area along the Natore-Pabna highway. Nine people died at the scene, while five others later succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at hospitals.

Police said an RP Paribahan bus travelling from Barguna to Rajshahi collided with a sand-laden truck heading towards Pabna after the bus reached the Baraigram area.

Following the accident, rescuers took the injured and the bodies of the deceased to Natore Sadar Hospital and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Eight of the injured were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Natore Additional Superintendent of Police Iftekhar Alam confirmed that 14 people had died in the accident. He said the bodies had been kept at the morgue of Natore Sadar Hospital and arrangements had been made for the treatment of the injured.

After visiting the scene, Baraigram Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Laila Jannatul Ferdous said authorities initially suspected that the driver might have been driving while drowsy in the early morning.

A committee will be formed to investigate the cause of the accident, she said, adding that the administration was working to identify the deceased and the injured.