'I was saved after a passenger pushed me off the train'

A passenger of Chattogram-bound Udayan Express said that he was saved by another passenger who pushed him out of the train immediately after a big collision.

Aminul Islam, a businessman, told The Daily Star at Chattogram railway station that the collision took palace 10-15 minutes after the Udayan Express started from Kashba station. 

At least 16 people were killed and many others injured as two intercity trains collided in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria early today.

Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet and Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita from Chattogram collided at Mondobhag Railway Station around 3:00am, said Md Delwar Hossain, loco shed in-charge of Akhaura Railway Junction.

Several compartments including Gha, Ja, Jha and Neo were flicked away from the tracks in the bang, Aminul said.

Aminul was travelling in the compartment no Gha.

Local people dialed 999 and with help of other rescuers took the injured passengers to hospitals, he said.

With the help of locals we rescued at least 37 injured passengers and sent them to Kashba Sadar Hospital on pick up vans and CNG-run auto-rickshaws, said another passenger Faijur Azad Chowdhury

Law enforcers and fire fighters reached the spot around an hour and a half later, Faijur said.

I went numb when I saw a compartment on the top of the locomotive, he said.   

A businessman in profession he reached Chattogram train station boarding another train from Laksham this morning.