At least nine people were killed and 33 others injured, after a bus smashed through the side railing of a bridge and plunged into a canal in Madaripur yesterday.

The accident happened around 2:30pm when the bus was crossing the bridge in Samaddar area on Dhaka-Barisal highway, said Moniruzzaman Fakir, assistant superintendent of police (sadar circle) in the district, quoting witnesses and some of the injured.

Suddenly, one of its tyres punctured, the driver lost control over the steering and the vehicle fell around 30 feet from the bridge into the canal, he said.

Five people were killed on the spot.

The bus had around 55 passengers and was heading towards Dhaka from Pirojpur.

On information, police and fire fighters rushed to the spot, rescued the injured and took them to hospitals in Madaripur, Faridpur and Barisal Medical College Hospital.

Four of the injured died on their way to the hospitals.

Many of the injured passengers were in a critical condition and the death toll may increase, said Moniruzzaman.

Names of only five of the deceased could be known. They are Sufia Begum, 35, Hira Lal, 40, Titu, 40, Ali Ahmed, 45, and Mizanur Rahman, 40.

Police said the driver and the helper of the bus were among the dead but could not name them.

Rescue operation was underway.

The identified bodies were handed over to the relatives, added police.