Tragedy in Pabna: Railway builds temporary gate
The railway built a temporary gate yesterday at the level crossing of Sirajganj where 11 people of a bridal party were killed in a train-microbus crash the day before.
Visiting the bride’s house, this correspondent found a heartbreaking picture.
The main gate of the house was still decorated. All the extra furniture brought in for bridal guests were still there. But six members of the family were buried.
“The decoration is still here but my newly married daughter is gone forever. She could not even step into her in-laws’ house,” said Hasina Khatun, the bride Sumaiya Khatun’s mother.
“I lost my daughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law in the tragic crash. All of them were buried today [Tuesday],” a wailing Hasina added.
Altaf Hossain, father of the bridegroom Ranjan, said, “All my relatives were supposed to gather at my house to wish the newly married couple in their marriage reception. The irony of fate, they gathered here but for their funeral.”
After the tragedy happened, relatives and neighbours of of both the bride and the groom were trying to counsel their family in Sirajganj.
Rajan was married off with Sumayia on Monday at Enayetpur Guchhagram village in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj.
After completing marriage ceremony, both the bride and the groom, along with their family members and relatives, were returning to the groom’s house in Kandipara. As the microbus carrying them reached Solop level crossing, a Dhaka-bound train Padma Express hit crashed with it and left 11 people dead and three more injured.
After the tragic end of 11 lives, railway authority set a bamboo-made temporary gate yesterday at the Solop level crossing which remained unprotected till Monday.
The trees beside the railway track were cut down so that the people could watch the train from distance.
Locals said accidents happened at the level crossing frequently as there was not gate or gateman.
The railway authorities left the level crossing unprotected for long. As 11 people were killed at once, they are now setting temporary gate.
A four-member enquiry committee visited the accident spot Monday night.
There are over 700 unprotected level crossings in the railway’s west zone, said Afzal Hossain, chief engineer of railway west zone.
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