In a heart-wrenching incident, at least 15 individuals lost their lives, and over 100 others suffered injuries in a tragic train collision in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh. The catastrophic accident unfolded when a passenger train and a cargo train collided head-on in Bhairab, located approximately 80 kilometers from the capital, Dhaka.
The fatal incident involved the Dhaka-bound Godhuli Express, which collided head-on with a freight train en route to Chattogram, disrupting train services to various parts of the country. Witnesses on the scene reported many individuals being trapped under the wreckage, raising fears of additional injuries and casualties.
Sadiqur Rahman, a government administrator in Bhairab, stated, “We have recovered 15 bodies, many are injured. The death toll will rise,” indicating the severity of the situation. As rescue operations progressed, at least 100 people were reported to be injured, with many found trapped under the damaged train coaches.
Fire service personnel quickly mobilized and initiated a rescue operation, but the death toll was expected to rise as the operation continued. Sirajul Islam, a local police official, emphasized the possibility of a higher number of casualties as the situation unfolded.
Mosharraf Hossain, an official from the Bhairab Fire Station, echoed these concerns, revealing that rescuers and local residents had begun the challenging task of retrieving bodies. Hossain mentioned that three passenger carriages had overturned, and there were fears that many individuals were trapped under the wreckage.
A fire service official explained, “We expect to find more bodies as well as injured passengers during the rescue process.” To aid in these efforts, a rescue train equipped with cranes was dispatched to the accident site.
An initial report on the incident indicated that the freight train had collided with the passenger train, specifically the Egaro Sindur, from behind, striking two of its carriages. Anowar Hossain, the superintendent of Dhaka Railway Police, provided this information, shedding light on the circumstances leading to the tragic collision.
Nazmul Islam, the acting general manager (east) of Bangladesh Railway, revealed that the container train had disregarded a signal and rammed into the last three carriages of the passenger train. In response to this devastating incident, the locomaster, assistant locomaster, and guard of the freight train have been suspended, according to Bangladesh Railway Director General Quamrul Ahsan. These steps were taken following a preliminary investigation into the incident.
As the nation mourns the loss of life and extends its support to those affected by this terrible tragedy, questions surrounding the train collision continue to be investigated, with authorities working diligently to uncover the circumstances that led to this heart-wrenching incident.
Sources By Agencies
