Online Desk: At least 17 people were killed after a passenger bus plunges into roadside ditch in Chhotrokanada area under Sadar upazila in Jhalakathi district on Saturday morning. The accident happened at about 10am.

The accident happened at about 10am when the bus, carrying around 40 passengers, was heading towards Barishal from Bhandaria in Pirojpur district. So far, 16 bodies were recovered. Of them, eight were women, six were men, while the rest two were children.

The death toll may rise, said Sadar Police Station OC Nasir Uddin Sarker. On information, members of Fire Service and Civil Defence and police rushed to the spot and started rescue operation.

The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.