Unusual train halt creates traffic jam

A fertiliser carrying train remained stranded for half an hour in the middle of the town between Bogra station to Chelopara Bridge area, much to the sufferings of commuters yesterday.

Around 11:00am, the Kurigram-bound train from Chittagong suddenly halted at the spot that sees an upward slope before the bridge, said railway officials and locals.

Later the railway authorities arranged an extra engine that carefully drew the train to the other end of Chelopara Bridge and the train moved smoothly afterwards, they said.

The situation during the busy hours caused serious traffic jam and immense sufferings of the people.

"My mother was suffering from breathing problem since morning and I accompanied to take her to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra. But we got stuck on the way due to the unusual train halt," said Aslam Hossain of Borogola in Bogra town.

Several others including local trader Abdul Ali and rickshaw puller Ashish Kumar told about their sufferings due to the train halt at a level crossing in the town.

Afzal Hossain, sub-assistant engineer of railway, and Benjurul Islam, stationmaster of Bogra station, said overload of the train, trouble in its engine and upward sloping of the track in the area might cause the problem.

The railway personnel took quick steps to restart the train, they said.