6 killed as cargo truck hits train at Dhaka container terminal

A freight lorry rams a train at Inland Container Terminal of Kamalapur Railway Station Monday, December 29, 2014. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq

At least six people including a woman were killed and 24 injured as a freight lorry rammed a train at Inland Container Terminal of Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka this afternoon.

• Death toll may rise
• Railway minister apologises
• Probe committee formed

Two died on the spot while the four others succumbed to their injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Of the deceased, four were identified as Majibur Rahman, 60, of Mirpur in the capital, Alamgir Hossain, 45, Ismail Hossain, 40, and Nayem while identities of the two others could not be known.

The incident took place around 12:45pm, Abdul Mazid, officer-in-charge of Dhaka Railway Police Station told The Daily Star Online.

As the passenger train from Narayanganj, 219-Narayangaj Local, was coming to Dhaka, the lorry of NS Cargo Ltd defied signal and hit a compartment, Nazmul Islam, transportation officer of Bangladesh Railway, Dhaka Division, said from the spot.

“It appears that the driver of the lorry lost control and rammed the train with speed,” he said.

“I signalled the lorry when the train was entering the station from Narayanganj but it kept on moving forward and crashed on the train,” Abdul Mazid, an Ansar member, told The Daily Star.  

In effect, a carriage of the train derailed.

Thirteen of the injured were admitted to DMCH.

Bodies of the five dead victims were kept at the Dhaka Medical College morgue, said Inspector Mozammel Haque, in-charge at Dhaka Medical College Hospital police outpost.

The death toll may rise as some of the injured are in critical condition, OC Mazid further said.

Visiting the spot, Railway Minister Mujibul Haque apologised for the accident.

Salvage operation begins after a freight lorry rams a train at Inland Container Terminal of Kamalapur Railway Station Monday, December 29, 2014. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq

Salvage operation was underway.

Rail communication between Dhaka and Narayanganj was remaining suspended till 2:50pm when this report was filed.

“We hope the rail communication will resume soon,” Divisional railway transportation officer Nazmul Islam said.

PROBE BODY FORMED

The railway authorities formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident.

Headed by Nazmul Islam, the committee has been asked to submit its report within three days.