A fatal road accident in Satkhira’s Patkelghata has claimed the life of a 58-year-old pedestrian after he was struck by a long-distance passenger coach early on Tuesday, 25 August. The vehicle subsequently veered out of control and plunged off the main highway, leaving several passengers injured and causing considerable panic among commuters during the early morning hours.
The victim has been identified as Ananda Das, a resident of Shakda village and the son of the late Krishnapad Das. According to police reports and eye witnesses, the incident took place at approximately 6:20 am on the Khulna-Satkhira highway near the Shakda Bridge. Mr Das was attempting to cross the busy thoroughfare when a speed-bound passenger bus operated by Shohag Paribahan, travelling from Dhaka towards Satkhira, collided violently with him. The impact of the heavy vehicle proved instant and lethal, causing Mr Das to die at the scene before medical assistance could reach him.
The violence of the collision forced the driver to lose control of the vehicle entirely, causing the bus to veer off the tarmac and capsize into a roadside ditch. The sudden plunge trapped several panicked passengers inside the coach. Local residents and passers-by rushed to the scene immediately upon hearing the loud crash, aiding in the rescue of those trapped within the wreckage. A number of passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash and were promptly transported to nearby medical facilities, where they received primary treatment before being discharged.
Exploiting the chaotic aftermath of the crash, the driver and the conductor abandoned the damaged coach and fled the area to evade arrest. Local law enforcement officers from Patkelghata Police Station quickly arrived at the crash site to secure the area and manage traffic along the highway.
Officers recovered the body of Mr Das and handed it over to his grieving family members, who have taken the remains back to his ancestral home for final rites. Patkelghata Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shafiqul Islam confirmed the details of the tragedy, stating that the damaged Shohag Paribahan bus remains positioned along the side of the highway while traffic management is maintained.
The incident has officially been reported to the Khornia Highway Police, who are coordinating with local authorities to conduct a thorough technical investigation into the collision. Law enforcement personnel have initiated targeted operations across the region to locate and apprehend the absconding driver and assistant. Formal legal proceedings regarding the fatal accident remain currently underway.
