Train rams truck on open level crossing
At least 13 people were killed and 50 others injured when a train rammed a truck on the unprotected level crossing at Kashiabari in Sadar upazila of Joypurhat yesterday noon.
Witnesses said the Khulna-bound train Rocket Mail hit the truck loaded with sand as the truck got stuck suddenly while crossing the railway track.
The train dragged the truck around 100 metres from the level crossing. The people sitting on the train engine fell on the railway track and died being crushed under the wheels of the train.
The deceased identified until yesterday evening were Liton, 35, son of Masiruddin of Badalgasi upazila in Naogaon, Liton, 22, son of Moeenuddin of Akkelpur upazila, Arif Mia, 9, son of Sirajul Islam of Peergachha upazila in Rangpur, and Sayeed Babu, 12, of Aladipara in Peergachha upazila.
Of the injured, 37 were admitted to Joypurhat Adhunik Hospital and Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
Joypurhat Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shafiqul Alam, however, claimed that nine people were killed in the accident. The DC also formed a three-member probe committee and asked to submit its report within three days from yesterday.
“I saw corpses and parts of human bodies on 100-metre rail line,” said Shanto, who went to the scene minutes after the accident.
However, passengers travelling in the compartments of the train did not receive any serious injuries.
"The driver of the truck, who jumped to survival, saw the approaching train but he thought that he could cross the level crossing before the train reached there. But, the truck engine went out of order suddenly and he could not help," said Mahbub, the helper of the truck driver, who also could escape as the driver did.
Members of Rab-5 led by Major Shah Ali, police, Bangladesh Rifles and fire fighters rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. Hundreds of people from the adjoining areas also went to the spot and took part in the rescue operation.
Two rescue trains from Iswardi and Parbotipur later salvaged the train, leading to normal plying of trains on the route in the evening.
A number of trains got stuck at Shantahar, Panchbibi and Hilli until evening, causing sufferings to thousands of passengers.
The accident occurred three years after a passenger bus-train collision at the unprotected level crossing of Akkelpur in Joypurhat on July 11 in 2006 that killed 35 people.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep shock at the loss of lives in the train-truck collision. In a message, she prayed for salvation of the departed souls and expressed her sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Comments