At least 15 people have died and 10 been injured after a lorry carrying iron rods overturned on a highway in central Bangladesh.
The accident occurred around 5am on Monday in the Soratoil area of Tangail district, about 83km north-west of Dhaka, according to local police chief Fuad Hossain. The lorry was travelling from Dhaka towards the northern region, carrying hitchhiking passengers who were heading home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.
The driver lost control on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway, causing the vehicle to overturn. All 15 victims were declared dead at the scene, many crushed under the rods and wheels. The majority of passengers were day labourers returning to their families for the festival.
Eyewitnesses told local television stations that they rushed to help rescue trapped passengers after hearing the crash. Road accidents are common in Bangladesh, claiming thousands of lives annually due to weak traffic law enforcement, poor road infrastructure and inadequate driver skills.
Emergency services attended the scene. The identities of the deceased and injured have not yet been confirmed.
