Pickup Overturns in Rangamati, Killing Four

Four people, including three women, were killed and two others seriously injured when a pickup truck overturned on the Chattogram–Rangamati road in Rangamati on Sunday.

The accident occurred in front of the Manikchhari Army Camp in Sapchhari Union of Rangamati Sadar Upazila on 16 August. The deceased were identified as Meghrani Chakma, 45, Shantana Chakma, 38, Shanti Ranjan Chakma, 65, and Shobha Chakma, 52. The injured were identified as pickup driver Gyan Bikash Chakma, 50, and Suman Chakma, 45.

According to police and local residents, the victims were travelling from Rangamati town towards Kutukchhari Bazar in an old pickup truck. They were heading to the market, which holds its weekly trading day on Sunday, to collect fresh vegetables and other produce.

The journey ended abruptly when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The pickup overturned on the road and was badly damaged in the crash. Three passengers died at the scene from the impact, while several others sustained serious injuries.

The injured were initially taken for medical treatment. One of them died while being transported to Chattogram, bringing the death toll to four. The remaining two injured people, including the driver, were reported to be in critical condition and receiving treatment at hospital.

The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by passengers travelling on hilly roads in the Rangamati region, where winding routes, steep sections and road conditions can make vehicle control particularly challenging. Older vehicles carrying passengers and goods can also pose additional risks when mechanical or operational problems arise.

Following the crash, police recovered the bodies of the four victims and sent them to the mortuary of Rangamati General Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The authorities said the bodies would be handed over to the relatives after the necessary legal procedures and examinations had been completed.

Sub-Inspector Tofazzal Hossain of Rangamati Kotwali Police Station said legal proceedings relating to the accident were under way. Police have also seized the pickup involved in the crash as part of the investigation.

Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the loss of control, the condition of the vehicle and other relevant factors as part of the legal process. The deaths have caused grief among the victims’ families and the local community, particularly as the passengers had been travelling for their regular weekly market activities when the tragedy occurred.