Noakhali Correspondent:

At least seven people were killed and four others were injured as a speeding microbus carrying family members of an expatriate plunged into a roadside canal in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali district early on Wednesday, said Fire Service.

Two of the deceased were identified as Oman expatriate Bahar Uddin’s wife Kabita and his daughter Mim, residents of Chopalli village under Hajjirpara in Lakshmipur district, said Farid Uddin, assistant director of Noakhali Fire Service.

Talha Bin Zashim, officer (media) at Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters, said the accident occurred around 5:40am when the microbus lost control on Noakhali-Lakshmipur regional road in Jagadishpur area and fell into Wapda canal in Chandraganj Dakshin Bazar of the upazila.

The accident left at seven people dead on the spot and four injured, he said.

On information, one firefighting unit from Chowmuhuni Fire Station rushed to the scene around 6:05am and carried out rescue operation, said the FSCD official.

Later, another unit from Majidee Bazar joined the rescue operation and sent the casualties to the hospitals, said Fire Service official Farid.

Quoting relatives, he said injured Bahar returned home from Oman on Tuesday night while his family members went to Dhaka to receive him and returning in the microbus.

“All the victims were from the same family,” he said.