Jewel Chowdhury, Habiganj/

The bodies of 14 people, including a woman from Chunarughat, who died in a road accident in South Surma of Sylhet, have been handed over to their relatives. Sylhet Additional District Magistrate Imrul Hasan said that following the request of the families of the victims, the bodies were handed over without autopsy.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, there was a collision between a truck carrying sand and a pickup carrying passengers in Kutubpur area of Nazir Bazar area of South Surmar on the Sylhet-Dhaka highway. Police and Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital authorities informed about the death of 14 people in that incident. Besides, 12 others were injured. All of them are said to be construction workers.

The victims of the accident are – Sunamganj Dirai Upazila Md. Sizil Mia (55), Ekalim Mia (55), Harish Mia (65), Sourav Mia (27), Sajedur (60), Badsha Mia (30), Sadhu Mia (50), Rashid Mia (50) and Meher Mia ( 25), Shaheen Mia (40), Dulal Mia (26) and Aolad Hossain (50) of Shantiganj Upazila of Sunamganj, Amina Begum (45) of Chunarughat and Aolad Mia (40) of Netrokona Barhatta.

After going to Osmani Medical College Hospital in the afternoon, it was seen that the atmosphere of the hospital has become heavy with the cries of the relatives of the injured and the dead. Relatives are crowding next to the hospital’s freezer. Many of them are crying on the ground.

Rabiul Islam, who is undergoing treatment at the hospital, said, ‘Suddenly a truck coming from the opposite direction hit our pickup. The pickup immediately overturned. The truck moved to his right on the road. My father and I were injured in the accident but survived. But my great uncle is no more.

Chandni Begum, Meher Mia’s wife, was sitting on the ground next to the refrigerator. He exclaimed, “I cooked eggs in the morning.” But he leaves without eating. Now my children are orphans. i don’t want money I want the children’s father.

Crying, Chandni said, ‘I couldn’t sleep last night in the summer. He called me around 2 am. I will buy a fan for you. He could not buy me a fan.

The witness of the accident and the brother of the deceased Sajedur Sher Islam (55). He was also lamenting the loss of his brother. Sher Islam said, “Suddenly a reverse truck ran towards us and hit us. Everything is available to us instantly.’

Meanwhile, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, who was visiting Sylhet, went to Osmani Hospital in the morning after receiving the news of the accident. Sylhet Police Commissioner Ilyach Sharif visited the accident site.

Ilyach Sharif said, ‘Pickup passenger transportation is prohibited. Still passengers are being transported by pickups on the highway. That is why such an accident happened. We will be careful not to repeat these incidents.

According to police, fire service and eyewitness sources, about 30 male and female construction workers were going to Goalabazar in Osmani Nagar upazila of Sylhet metropolis in a pickup (Sylhet-No 11-1647). At around 5:30 in the morning, the pick-up collided with the Sylhet-bound sand truck (Dhaka Metro 13-0780) leaving from Munshiganj at a place called Qutubpur in Nazirbazar area of South Surma.