At least 19 people died today in Bangladesh and 12 others were seriously injured in a road accident involving a bus that tore off a guardrail and fell into a rubble, police said, quoted by AFP.

The injured were taken to the University Hospital Center in the capital Dhaka, local police chief Masood Alam told AFP.

The tragedy happened in the southern district of Shibchar.

Police believe that at 08:00 local time (02:00 GMT) the driver lost control and crashed into the safety fence of a newly built highway, after which the bus plunged nine meters from a height.

Road accidents are common in Bangladesh due to old, poorly maintained vehicles and roads, as well as poor driver training.

Cyclone Sitrang has claimed over 13 lives in Bangladesh

An association defending the interests of travelers in Bangladesh reported that last year a record number of people died in road accidents in the country - 9,951, BTA adds.

bus accident

Bangladesh