One killed as train hits covered van
Rail link on 2 routes suspended for 5hrs
A man was killed and another injured when a goods-laden covered van was hit by a speeding train on a level crossing in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur early yesterday.
The gate at the level crossing near Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd was left open while the vehicle was crossing it around 5:30am, said locals.
Following the accident, rail communications on Khulna-Rajshahi and Dhaka-Dinajpur routes remained suspended for five hours, railway sources said.
Operation of trains restarted at 10:30am on the day, said Khokon Chandra Das, sub-inspector of Government Railway Police in Parbatipur.
The dead -- Biplob Hossain, 22, son of Joynal Abedin, from Nilphamari Sadar upazila -- was the helper of the vehicle's driver.
The injured -- Abdul Kalam, the van driver -- was referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital from Phulbari Upazila Health Complex. Locals took them to Phulbari Upazila Health Complex.
Sirajul Islam, in-charge of Barapukuria Police Investigation Centre, said Abdul Aziz, the gatekeeper at the level crossing, fled the scene after the accident.