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16 killed as trains collide in Kasba


Bangladeshpost
Published : 12 Nov 2019 10:47 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 01:48 AM

Marufur Rahman Jackey, Brahmanbaria

At least, 16 people were killed and dozens other injured in deadly train accident at Mondovag railway station under Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria at wee hours of Tuesday.

The terrible accident occurred when the Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita, coming from Chattogram, violating rail signal directly hit the last four bogies of Chattogram-bound intercity train Udayan Express, coming from Sylhet. It happened because tracks of the two trains crisscrossed each-other near Mondovag station.

In the collision, Turna Nishita crushed four bogies of Udayan Express almost to the ground, killing sixteen passengers and injuring more than 100, said officials.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Law Minister Anisul Huq who is also the local lawmaker have expressed their condolence to the family members of the deceased. 

Brahmanbaria deputy commissioner, Bangladesh Railway Director General, local UP chairman and local UNO all rushed to the spot in the morning and oversaw the rescue efforts.

Dhaka-bound Turnanishita from Chattogram collided with Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet 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.

Local sources and witnesses said immediately after the accident, all train communications between Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Noakhali, Chattogram-Sylhet, and Noakhali-Sylhet were disrupted.

Three probe committees have formed by BR and district administration to investigate the issue. 

Relief train arrives from Akhaura and Laksam continue their rescue works. In addition, the army, BGB, fire services, police, Genetic Computer Academy Independent Scout Group, CDC Free Scout Group, local Awami League, Jubo League are assisting in the rescue. Railway Secretary Mohammad Mofazzal Hossain visited the scene. He told reporters that two investigation teams have been formed by the railway and one from the district administration. 

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, the departing train from Chittogram crossed the Shashidal Railway Station at 2:48am on Tuesday morning and left for Mandabhag railway station. The railway station master signaled with red light to stop at the outer before entering the station. On the other hand, the Udyan Express, which left Sylhet for Chattogram, left the Kasba railway station and at the entrance of Mandabha railway station, the station master gave him a signal to leave the main line and come to line 1. When the driver of the train entered the Line 1, before six coaches of the train could enter the line 1 from the main line, the Turna Nishita came in from the other direction and collided with Udayan Express. In this, three coaches of Udayan Express got severely damaged. Sixteen passengers of the Udayan Express were killed and hundreds of passengers were injured. 

A temporary information center has been opened at Baye Shikkha Sadan High School to ascertain the identity of the victims.