2 killed as moving bus catches fire in Daudkandi

Two people have burnt to death as a moving passenger bus caught fire in Cumilla's Daudkandi area on Thursday. 

The Matlab-bound Matlab Express bus caught fire around 6pm today near Gauripur bus stand on Dhaka-Chattogram highway while returning from Dhaka, Additional Superintendent at Comilla Highway Police Shaheen Ahmed told The Business Standard. 

Daudkandi Highway Police officer Ashraful Alam said nine among the injured were referred to Dhaka and two were admitted to Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex while six were released after providing first aid treatment. 

The deceased were identified as Safin, 4, son of Saiful Islam of Daluakandi village and Rafiqul Islam, son of Ahad Ullah of Tinpara village in the upazila.

It is being guessed that the fire originated from the gas cylinder of the bus, said the police officer. 

Mohammad Jamal Uddin, residential medical officer at Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex said the condition of the injured are critical. 

According to locals, the fire broke out when the bus was crossing Gauripur bus stand. Being informed, Daudkandi Fire Service members reached the spot and brought the fire under control before it spreaded out in surrounding areas. 

The accident caused a traffic jam in an area of ​​about 7 kilometer on the Dhaka-Chhattisgarh highway causing sufferings to the stranded passengers. 

Daudkandi Highway Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Zahirul Haque said the bodies of the victims have been kept in Daudkandi police outpost. They are trying to normalise the movement of traffic on the road.