At least 17 killed as two trains collide in Bhairab

At least 17 people were killed after a freight train did not stop at a set of lights and smashed into three carriages of Egarosindhur Godhuli near Bhairab Bazar Junction Railway Station this afternoon.

Witnesses and officials of Bangladesh Railway said Egarosindhur, from Kishoreganj, departed Bhairab junction for Dhaka around 3:30pm and as it was changing to the main line when the freight train, heading towards Chattogram, hit the three rear carriages over a switch, which enables trains to change lines.

The impact crushed the carriages killing many on the spot and trapping scores more. The last two carriages flipped on their sides. The carriages were crammed with people and many were flung outside on impact.

Locals, police, fire fighters, and Rab personnel, who rushed to the scene, pulled out bodies and the injured from the wreckage. At least 75 people were taken to hospitals.

Opu who along with his parents was travelling in the third last carriage said, "When the collision happened, everyone inside was screaming. We managed to get out."

He said his uncle, aunt, and two cousins were in the second-last carriage. "We rushed there to find them. The scene inside was chaotic with people screaming for help.

"We found one of the cousins dead. We thought my uncle, aunt, and the other cousin might have survived. We rushed to the upazila health complex and found their bodies."

"We got on the train together; we survived narrowly, but they are all gone," Opu told this newspaper at the Bhairab Upazila Health Complex.

Shobuj Shil and his wife Shanti Rani Shil were going to Narsingdi from Bhairab to celebrate Durga Puja with their only daughter who got married two weeks ago.

Shobuj, 48, did not survive.

"We were eagerly waiting to see my daughter and her in-laws. We got on the train and within a few minutes, my world turned upside down," Shanti Rani said.

Alyea Begum, of Sreenagar area in Kishoreganj, was wailing after seeing a photo of the body of her nephew, Rabbi, 25, on a display at the health complex.

Rabbi, the only son of her brother, was returning to Dhaka after vising his ailing father. "We were looking for a bride for Rabbi. But everything is shattered now," she said.

Family members and relatives also went to the spot to find their loved ones. Many were in tears and wailing.

Akram Hossain, of Aganagar area in Bhairab, was looking for his brother at the scene. He said his brother was travelling to Dhaka on the train as he was supposed to go abroad.

"His phone is unreachable … . I can't find him anywhere," he said.

Shafiqul Hossain, of Bhairav, was looking for his grandmother.

"I came to see off my grandmother. She came to visit our home a few days ago. I was waiting at the station when I heard the bang. Now I can't find her. I don't know whether she is alive or dead," he said.

A total of 75 people were taken to the health complex as of 9:00pm, said Kishoreganj Civil Surgeon Saiful Islam.

He said 22 of them were moved to hospitals in Dhaka, Kishoreganj, and Narsingdi.

The crash snapped rail communication between Dhaka and Chattogram, Sylhet and Mymensingh. The link was restored after a rescue train removed the wrecked carriages from the lines around 7:30pm.

Nazmul Islam, acting general manager (east) of Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star, "The freight train had ignored the signal."

BR suspended the driver, his assistant, and the guard of the freight train following a preliminary investigation.

BR Director General Quamrul Islam said BR formed two committees to probe the incident.

The Dhaka divisional office of BR formed a four-member committee which was asked to submit its report within three working days.

BR's East Zonal Office in Chattogram formed a five-member body and asked it to submit the report within five working days, the DG said.

On November 12, 2019, two intercity trains collided in Kasba of Brahmanbaria killing 16 people and injuring more than 70 people.