Train ignores signal, rams truck in Dinajpur

A gateman was killed at a level crossing as a freight train hit a truck in Dinajpur's Phulbari upazila early yesterday.

The dead, Sushanto Kumar Das, 28, was an employee of Bangladesh Railway under Pakshey railway zone. He hailed from Ishwardi upazila of Pabna.

Israfil Sarkar, stationmaster of Phulbari Railway Station, said Chilahati-bound Rocket Mail train from Khulna was waiting at platform-1 for clearance around 1:00am. At that time, a freight train from Dinajpur's Parbatipur upazila was heading towards the station. The train was supposed to be given clearance for entering platform-2.

But the driver of the freight train sped towards platform-1 before he was given clearance to enter platform-2. The gateman at Swajanpur level crossing, around 300 metres away from the station, did not lower the barrier as the red light of the outer signal was on. He was waiting beside the barrier in case he was given any signal.

Suddenly, the freight train rammed the rice-laden truck on the level crossing. The Naogaon-bound truck flipped onto its side and fell on the gateman, leaving him dead on the spot.

Rescuers of fire service later recovered the body and sent it to Dinajpur M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

Train communications on Dhaka-Khulna and Khulna-northern districts routes remained suspended for about five hours after the accident, said railway officials.

Shahidul Islam, divisional railway manager in Pakshey, said a five-member committee, led by an assistant transportation officer of Bangladesh Railway in Pakshey, was formed to investigate the accident. The committee was asked to submit its report in three working days.

Meanwhile, Rupsha Express bound for Chilahati from Khulna derailed on the same level crossing at 4:20pm yesterday, said the stationmaster. The derailment halted road communications on Phulbari-Rangpur highway and rail communications on Khulna-Dhaka and Khulna-Rajshahi routes.

The railway authorities were conducting a salvage operation till filing of the report last night.

At least 12 bus passengers were killed and eight others injured as a train hit a bus on a level crossing near Joypurhat town on Friday morning.

The gateman had left the crossing's gate open, said police.