At least 17 people were killed and 23 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside waterbody in Jhalakathi Sadar upazila this morning. 

There are eight women and three children among the deceased, said Sub-Inspector Mohammad Arefin of Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station.

Twelve out of 17 people killed in the accident have been identified so far. They are: Sumaiya, 6, Tarek, 45, Md Salam, 60, Md Mahin 25, Abdullah, 8, Rahima, 60, Abul Kalam, Ripa Moni, 2, Ayrin, 22, Noyon, 16, Khushboo, 19, and Khadiza, 55.

Afsarul Haque Titu, superintendent of Jhalakathi police, told our Barishal correspondent that the accident occurred in front of Dhanshiri union parishad office around 9:45am.

The bus was heading towards Jhalakathi from Bhandaria of Pirojpur, the SP said.

Talking to The Daily Star, Sub-Inspector Shakhawat Hossain of Jhalakathi Sadar Police Station said that the death toll may rise.

On information, members of Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the spot and started rescue operation, said Firoz Qutubi, deputy assistant director of the fire service.

Animesh Mandol, a motor vehicle inspector, visited the spot and said the bus was running at high speed and at one point, the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into the waterbody.  

The bus has been pulled out from the waterbody, he said.

Mohammad Momen, a passenger who managed to come out of the bus after the accident, said, "When I boarded the 52-seated bus, I saw almost all the seats were full. Besides, I saw some more people were standing inside the vehicle."