When tears run dry

Relatives try to console Jyotsna Rani as she mourns 11 people killed in a bus-train collision in Jhenidah's Kaliganj on Friday. It was from her wedding that the victims were returning. Photo: Banglar Chokh

An eerie calm shrouds Fulhari village of Jhenidah's Shailkupa as people mourn the 11 people, who died when the bus carrying them home from a wedding ceremony was crushed by a train on Friday.

Though two days have passed since the tragedy, those who have lost their near ones remain dumbfounded. Their tears have run dry.

The bodies have been cremated.

Now worries engulf the families of the 60 people injured in the tragic accident, especially of those in critical condition.

Four of the critically injured have been shifted to Dhaka.

Ripon Kumar, 34, was kept at the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Dhanmondi hospital.

"Ripon is a college teacher. It is not possible for his family to bear the hospital expenses ... We request the government and individuals to help us," said Ripon's brother-in-law Akash Kumar while talking to The Daily Star at the hospital last night.

Mishu Kumar Shaha, 28, who runs a small a jewellery shop at Fulhari, was in critical condition at the ICU of another hospital in the same area.

Amit Kumar Biswas, 34, a betel leaf peddler, was groaning in pain at the National Institute of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation when our correspondent visited him last night.

"Both of his legs have been crushed. We borrowed Tk 30,000 and already half of it is spent in transport cost. We need a lot of money to save him. I don't know to whom we should go for compensation," said his brother Pronab Kumar Biswas.

Some 30 others have been undergoing treatment at Jessore Medical College and Hospital, 14 at Jhenidah Sadar Hospital and four at a health complex in Kaliganj upazila, according to Afzal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Khulna Railway Police Station.

A case has been filed against the bus driver in connection with Friday's incident, reports out Jhenidah correspondent.

According to the railway rules, vehicles or people are to be blamed for any accident on railway tracks if they show negligence in crossing those, the OC said.

Gatemen Humayan Kabir and Barobazar Railway Station master Turki Ahmed, who were suspended for their alleged negligence to duty, have been on the run since the accident took place at Barobazar of Kaliganj in Jhenidah.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shafiqul Islam of Jhenidah said a probe committee has been formed and asked to submit its report tomorrow. Punitive actions will be taken after that.