2 killed in Sirajganj train crash

Two people were killed and 40 injured as a train crashed into another waiting at Ullapara Railway Station in Sirajganj early today.

Rail communication between Dhaka and at least 30 northern and southern districts was restored at noon, eight hours after its suspension following the accident, reports our Pabna correspondent.

Meanwhile, the railway authorities have suspended three staff on charge of negligence in duties and formed two separate probe committee to investigate the incident.

Akbar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sirajganj Government Railway Police Station, said Dhaka-bound Ekota Express from Dinajpur crashed into Lalmoni Express when the latter was waiting at the railway station around 3:40am.

Two passengers -- Altaf Hossain, 35, of Natore Sadar upazila; and Majibar Rahman, 40, of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila -- died on the spot while at least 40 were injured in the accident, the OC said.

Some of the injured were whisked off to Ullapara Upazila Health Complex, he said.

Lalmoni Express was heading for Lalmonirhat from Dhaka.

The OC said the collision occurred as the trains were running on the same lines.

The train service resumed after a relief train from Ishwardi Junction of Pabna removed wreckages from the tracks, said Pankaj Kumar Saha, railway manager of Pakshey division, told The Daily Star.

Later, the authorities have suspended the driver of Ekota Express, his assistant and the Ullapara station master, the railway official said.