At least eight construction workers were killed in a tragic road accident on the Dhaka–Sylhet highway in South Surma, Sylhet, early Sunday morning. The crash occurred around 6:00am in the Telibazar area when a pickup carrying workers collided head-on with a jackfruit-laden truck coming from the opposite direction.

According to sources, 20 to 22 workers had set out from Ambarkhana at dawn, as on a regular workday, heading towards Lalabazar for a concrete casting job at an under-construction building. The pickup was also carrying construction equipment, including a metal cement mixer machine.

As the vehicle reached Telibazar, it collided directly with the oncoming truck. The impact was so severe that the workers were thrown onto the road after being struck by the mixer machine inside the pickup. Four workers, including two women, died on the spot.

The injured were rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, where three more were declared dead. Another victim later succumbed to injuries, raising the death toll to eight. At least seven others were injured, several of them in critical condition.

The deceased have been identified as Azir Uddin and Amir Uddin, two brothers from Bishwambharpur in Sunamganj; Nargis Akter from Dharampasha; Mosha Munni Begum from Dirai; Suruj Ali from Bhatipara; Faridul Islam from Noornagar; and Pandab Biswas and Badruzzaman from Companiganj in Sylhet.

Police have seized both the truck and the pickup following the accident. The truck’s helper has been detained, while the driver remains on the run. Fire Service officials suspect that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the crash.

A relative of one of the victims said the workers had resumed work after several days of rain. “They were heading to Sunamganj through a contractor. The moment of impact threw everyone off the vehicle—some died instantly, while others were critically injured,” he said.

Most of the victims were the sole earners of their families, leaving their households devastated. The tragedy has sparked grief and anger in the area, as workers who left home in search of livelihood returned as lifeless bodies.

A similar accident occurred on June 7, 2023, in Kutubpur, South Surma, where 14 construction workers lost their lives on the same highway. The latest incident has once again raised concerns over road safety and driver responsibility.

Police said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident, and efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing truck driver.