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Bhairab train accident rescue operation ends


Published : 24 Oct 2023 10:35 PM

The rescue operation in the deadly Bhairab train accident that left 17 persons dead and dozens injured ended after around 15 hours.

Rescuers removed the coaches from the two lines at 4:20am on Tuesday.  The line was fully ready for train movement at 6:30am.

However, it may take more than a day for the services to return to normal. 

Trains are currently  running at a speed of 10kmph on the accident-hit rail track. Trains will run at this speed until further notice.

So far, several investigation committees have been formed for the Bhairab train collision.

The Ministry of Railways on Tuesday formed a seven- member investigation committee to probe the Bhairab rail accident.

The investigation committee has been ordered to submit its report by seven  working days, according to a statement signed by Deputy Secretary of the ministry, Towfiq Imam.

Joint Secretary of Railways Ministry Hasan Mahmud will lead the committee as convener while Deputy Secretary Towfiq Imam will be its member secretary, the statement said.

The committee, comprising representatives of the Railways Ministry and Bangladesh Railway, will investigate the cause of the accident which occurred  at Bhairab station when a passenger train "Egarosindhur Express" hit a freight train there.

Other members of the committee are: Joint Director Generals of Bangladesh  Railway MA Salah Uddin and Tabassum Binte Islam, Deputy Secretary of Railways  Ministry Mohammad Hanif and Additional Tecom Officer of Bangladesh Railway and Divisional Medical Officer.

Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence on Tuesday  formed another five-member probe committee to investigate the deadly train accident at Bhairab.

The investigation committee was ordered to submit its report by five working days, said Mohammad Shahjahan Sikder, acting officer of media cell of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Director (operations and maintenance) of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence Lieutenant Colonel Md Tajul Islam Chowdhury will lead the committee while Md Masud Sardar, assistant director of Mymensingh Fire Service will be its member secretary, he added.

The other members of the committee are-- Deputy Assistant Director of Narsingdi Fire Service (member) Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Assistant Director of Kishoreganj Fire Service (member) Md Enamul Haque, and Station Officer of Bhairab Bazar Fire Service Station (member) Md Azizul Haque.

In connection with the accident, Bangladesh Railway on Monday suspended the locomaster, assistant locomaster, and guard of the container train involved in the Bhairab train accident.

On Monday evening, at least 17 people were killed and dozens injured when a cargo train rammed into two bogies of a passenger train at Bhairab Rail Station in Kishoreganj.

The accident took place at 3:50pm when the cargo train hit the Dhaka-bound Egarosindhur Godhuli Express, which was coming from Kishoreganj.