Chandina: At least seven people were killed when a driver lost control and the bus overturned and fell into a ditch at Chandina upazila in Comilla on Sunday morning. Around 20 people were also injured during the accident.

The deceased were Pinki Aktar, 25, wife of Manik Mia of Maona in Gazipur, her one and half year old son Minhaj, Golap Khan, 60, son of Biram Uddin of Khalilpur village, his wife Anwara Begum, 55, Towhidul Islam, 38, son of Sabir Box of Banguri village in Debidar upazila, Sujon, 22, son of Shahjahan of Bamonikhola village in Chandina and Md Jasim Uddin, 35, son of Abdul Mannan ofJasapur village in Sadar upazila.

District assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Shafiqul Islam told NTV Online the accident took place at Nuritala of the upazila at about 11:30am.

The ASP said the Dhaka-bound bus was coming from Companyganj in Comilla, when it fell into a roadside ditch. Later, police and fire fighters went to the spot and started rescue operation. Seven bodies have been recovered till now.

Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. The death toll may rise further as the rescue operation is still going on, said the ASP.