At least seven tourists sustained injuries, two of them critically, after an open-top Jeep—locally known as a ‘Chander Gari’—overturned near the popular Sajek Valley hill station in Rangamati’s Baghaichhari sub-district on Sunday morning.
The accident occurred at around mid-morning in the Houshapara area along the winding Sajek-Khagrachhari road as the vehicle was carrying the holidaymakers back from the scenic hilltop destination. All seven casualties hail from Singair sub-district in Manikganj district.
Upon receiving news of the mishap, personnel from the Bangladesh Army stationed nearby mounted a prompt rescue operation. The soldiers extracted the victims from the damaged vehicle, administered basic first aid at the scene, and subsequently arranged emergency transport to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital for comprehensive medical treatment.
Officer-in-Charge of Sajek Police Station, Tofazzal Hossain, confirmed the incident, stating that law enforcement officers promptly reached the spot to secure the area and assess the cause of the rollover. Preliminary findings suggest the driver may have lost control while navigating a steep incline and sharp bend characteristic of the mountainous terrain.
The injured individuals have been identified as Azahar Mia, 60; Shahanara Akhtar; Arifur Rahman, 35; Md Sohrab, 26; Nasrin, 35; Md Shahjahan, 45; and Asha, 13. Medical personnel at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital reported that the condition of Azahar Mia and Shahanara Akhtar remains critical. Among the other victims, Nasrin suffered severe head trauma, Md Shahjahan sustained deep lacerations to his arm, and 13-year-old Asha suffered a fracture to her right arm.
Nestled in the Kasalong range of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sajek Valley sits roughly 1,800 feet above sea level and draws thousands of domestic visitors every week. Navigating the stretch between Khagrachhari and Sajek requires driving through high-altitude hairpin turns, steep gradients, and narrow cliffside corridors. Modified four-wheel-drive vehicles like the ‘Chander Gari’ serve as the primary mode of transport for tourists traversing these rugged hill tracts, where sudden mechanical failures or loss of traction on slippery slopes frequently pose severe safety hazards.
