JASHORE, Aug 18, 2023 (BSS) - Two passengers were killed and five others injured when a tree branch fell on the roof of a bus on the Jashore-Benapole highway in front of the Benyali BRAC office under Jhikargachha upazila of the district last night.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Salauddin, 45, resident of D-Block area under Sadar upazila and Shimul Hossain, 35, son of Munsoor Ali, a resident of Benapole. 

According to police and local sources, a covered van was going from Benapole to Jashore around 10 pm on Thursday. When the covered van was trying to sidestep a Benapole-bound passenger bus coming from the opposite direction, it hit an old rain tree on the side of the road. Then the top of the old tree collapsed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jhikargachha Police Station Suman Bhakta said.

At that time, the branch of the tree fell on the roof of the passenger bus, killing the passenger Salahuddin on the spot and leaving six people including Shimul Hossain seriously injured. 
Shimul was taken to Jhikargachha Upazila Health Complex with serious injuries and died while undergoing treatment there. 

A case was filed in this connection, the OC added.