Mirsarai death toll is 39, not 44

CHITTAGONG, July 14 (BSS)- Mirsarai administration clarified that the actual number of school children died in the tragic road accident on Monday is 39 and not 44 as reported earlier.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Upazila chairman said they found the error and the true figure of the death toll came while distributing grants to the families of the deceased on Wednesday.

The headmaster of Abu Torab multilateral High School Zafar Sadeque also admitted the error.

He said the error occurred due to the fact that many of the parents could not say which classes their wards belonged to. Some names were recorded more than once in hurry and chaos, the headmaster said.

UNO Sayeed Kutub said names of Tarek and Rajib were recorded thrice and twice respectively, and Mithu Chandra Nath and Shuva Chandra Nath were injured and would not die."

Thirty eight students aged between nine and 14 and another person died and 15 others were injured when the truck carrying them plunged into a ditch full of water near Abu Torab bazaar, Borotakia, Mirsarai upazila on Dhaka -Chittagong highway on July 11.

The accident took place on the connecting road between Bara Takia and Abu Torab Bazaar, only one and a half kilometers away from Abu Toarb High School.

Survivors said Mofij Uddin, who was steering the truck, was talking over a mobile phone despite protests.

Mofiz, yet to be netted, was in fact drivers' assistant and had no driving license.

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