3 killed in Cumilla road crash

A fatal three-way collision involving a truck, a CNG-powered autorickshaw, and a battery-powered autorickshaw occurred in Chauddagram of Cumilla on Monday evening, claiming three lives on the spot and injuring five others.

One of the deceased was a woman.

The accident took place at the Felna Kazi Bari U-turn on the Laksam-Chauddagram regional road in Chauddagram upazila.

Chauddagram Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Hilal Uddin Ahmed confirmed the details to Daily Samakal.

Two of the deceased have been identified as Abul Bashar and his wife, Morsheda Begum, residents of Maheshwar village in Moukra union of Nangalkot upazila.

Four of the injured—Abu Tayyab (26), Abdur Rahim (27), battery autorickshaw driver Mahbubul Haque, and Anwara Begum (42), all from Nangalkot upazila—received initial treatment at Chauddagram Upazila Health Complex. Due to their critical condition, they were later transferred to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

According to locals, a CNG-powered autorickshaw traveling from Chauddagram to Nangalkot collided head-on with a battery-powered autorickshaw at the U-turn. The impact caused the CNG autorickshaw to veer into the path of an oncoming truck, resulting in a severe crash. All three deceased were passengers in the CNG autorickshaw.

Mahbubul Haque, the battery autorickshaw driver, stated that a truck speeding from Laksam toward Chauddagram struck the CNG autorickshaw, causing him to lose control and collide with its rear, triggering the three-way accident.

OC Hilal Uddin Ahmed said police and fire service personnel responded promptly. Efforts are ongoing to identify the third victim.

The death toll may rise, as the CNG autorickshaw was severely crushed under the truck.