At least 16 passengers were killed and over 100 others injured in a fatal collision between two trains on Dhaka-Chattogram route in Mandbagh Railway Station in Kasba upazila early Tuesday.
The deadly collision between Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express from Chattogram and Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet took place around 3am, said Deputy Commissioner Hayat-Ud-Dowllah Khan, who visited the spot right after the crash.
“So far, 16 people have died in the deadly accident, but the figure may go up further,” the DC added.Fifteen of the deceased were identified Majibur Rahman, 55, son of Abdul Jalil of Hajiganj upazila, Kakoli, 20, wife of Moin Uddin of Haimchar upazila, Kulsum Begum, 30, wife of Mojibur Rahman of Hajiganj upazila, Mariam Begum, 6, daughter of Jahangir of Haimchar upazila, Farzana, 15, daughter of Billal Miaji of Uttar Balia in Chandpur district, Yeasin Arafat, 12, of Bahula, Ripon Mia, 25, son of Azmatullah, Sujon Ahmed, 24, son of Abdul Hashim of Chunarughat upazila, Al Amin, 30, son of Ayub Hossain of Baniachang upazila, Ali Mohammad Yusuf, 32, of Anwarpur, Piyara Begum, wife of Abdus Salam of Chunarughat upazila, Adiba, 2, daughter of Sohel of Borobazar in Habiganj district, Zaheda Khatun, 48, wife of Muslem Mia of Sreemangal upazila in Moulvibazar district, Robi Haridhan, 25, son of Shankar Haridhan of Noakhali district and Sohamoni, 3,daughter of Sohel Rana of Brahmanbaria district.
Witnesses and railway sources said Turna Nishita started for Mandbhagh from Shashidal Railway Station around 2:48am. It was signalled to stop at the outer. At the same time, Udayan was approaching Mandbhagh from Kasba Railway Station and it was signalled to enter line-1.
However, Turna Nishita ignored the signal and continued to run on the main line. It crashed into the middle of Udayan while it was entering the line-1.
Six of the bogies of the Chattogram-bound train were on the main line when the collision took place.
Under the impact of the collision, three compartments of Udayan got completely twisted.
How it happened?
Witnesses and railway sources said Turna Nishita started for Mandbhagh from Shashidal Railway Station around 2:48am. It was signalled to stop at the outer. At the same time, Udayan was approaching Mandbhagh from Kasba Railway Station and it was signalled to enter line-1.
However, Turna Nishita ignored the signal and continued to run on the main line. It crashed into the middle of Udayan while it was entering the line-1.
Six of the bogies of the Chattogram-bound train were on the main line when the collision took place.
Under the impact of the collision, three compartments of Udayan got completely twisted.
Stationmaster of Mandbhagh M Zaker Hossain Chowdhury claimed that the accident took place as Turna Nishita continued to run ignoring the signal.
Rescue operation
Several units of Fire Service from Brahmanbaria Sadar, Akhaura and Kasba rushed to the spot and carried out the rescue operation.
Two relief trains also rushed in and cleared the line.
The DC said the rail communications on the Chattogram-Dhaka and Chattogram-Sylhet routes restored at 10:45am on completion of the salvage operation.
The injured were taken to different hospitals of Brahmanbaria and Cumilla districts.
Minister’s visit to spot
Visiting the spot, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan announced compensation of Tk 1 lakh for the families of each deceased and Tk 10,000 for each injured while the district administration also declared Tk 25,000 for the burial of the deceased each.
Police Super Md Anisur Rahman also visited the spot.
Three suspended
Loco master Taser Uddin, assistant loco master Apu Dey and assistant guard Abdur Rahman of Turna Nishita were suspended over the accident, said Shariful Alam, senior information officer of the Railways Ministry.
Five probe bodies formed
Bangladesh Railway authorities formed four probe bodies while the district administration another to look into the deadly incident.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, expressed profound shock at the deaths in the fatal collision.
Both of them extended deep condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the accident and prayed for the eternal peace of the victims.
Prime Minister asked the local administration and public representatives to extend all-out support to the victims of Brahmanbaria train crash.UNB
