The inter-city train Simanta Express was saved from a dangerous derailment as locals foiled a sabotage attempt in Domar upazila of Nilphamari district on Wednesday.
The incident took place at Dola area of Bagdokra village in Prodhanpara Boragari union in Domar at around 10:00pm.
Aminul Islam Ripon, the chairman of Boragari Union Parishad, told journalists, “Locals heard the sound of opening railway line in that area. Hearing the sound, they rushed to the spot and saw a group of criminals opening rail clips from the rail line. When they tried to catch the criminals, they fled the scene.”Later, some 72 rail clips were recovered from a sack left by the miscreants, he added.
At that time, the Khulna bound Simanta express train was coming from Chilahati. Hundreds of people were present at the scene. As they gave different signals, the train stopped. It saved hundreds of passengers from major accidents.
Sultan Mridha, Railway Senior Assistant Engineer (Roads) said, “After getting the news that the rail clip of the railway line had been removed, we reached the spot with the workers at night. Later, after the repair of the railway line, the train movement has been normalized.”
Nilphamari station master Obaidur Rahman said the train left after one and half hours as the rail line was repaired.
Md Nazmul Alam, Domar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, said police and railway intelligence department are investigating the matter to identify the criminals.
On Wednesday early morning, one person was killed and 10 others injured when the Mohonganj Express derailed after miscreants damaged the tracks on the Joydepur-Mymensingh rail line near Bhawal rail station in Gazipur.
The attacks on train have created uncertainty among the train passengers as it is impossible to detect damage done to railway tracks in the dark of the night.
