Rail links with Ctg, Sylhet snapped
Rail communication on Dhaka-Sylhet and Sylhet-Chittagong routes remained snapped since Saturday night after a Dhaka-bound train derailed due to landslide at Satgaon in Srimangal.
However, there was no report of any casualty. Several trains remained stuck as railway authorities postponed their scheduled departure.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 11:30pm on Saturday night when Dhaka-bound Surma Mail reached a hilly place between Satgaon and Rashidpur railway station. The engine and two compartments of the train derailed in the hilly area where earth was piled up on the rail tracks due to landslide wrought by downpour.
Three rescue teams from Akhaura, Kulaura and Dhaka were conducting salvage operation since 3:00am to restore rail communication. Although the two derailed compartments were cleared by afternoon, the engine was yet to be removed from the tracks till 8:00pm yesterday.
The passengers of Chittagong-bound Udayan Express and Jalalabad Express from Sylhet suffered heavily as the two trains remained stuck at Satgaon and Shamshernagar railway stations after the incident, reports our Sylhet correspondent. Sylhet-bound Upobon Express also got trapped at Saistaganj station.
The Srimangal station master said the salvage work was going on but it would take more time to complete. He could not give any specific time.
Meanwhile, Chittagong Railway authorities cancelled the Paharika Express and Udayan Express trips to Sylhet scheduled for yesterday morning and night respectively, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
The train that left Chittagong for Sylhet on Saturday night got stuck at Akhaura station in Brahmanbaria.
Chittagong Railway Station Master Mohammad Golam Mustafa said the salvage work to restore rail communication was underway.
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