Rail communications in Dhaka resume, toll from collision rises to 17

The death toll from the collision between a passenger train and a rear-ended goods train in Bhairab upazila at Kishoreganj in Bangladesh rose to 17, Dhaka Tribune reported. According to the report, rail communication with Dhaka and Chittagong, Sylhet and Kishoreganj was restored after four hours of disruption following the accident.

While the toll from the accident mounted to 17, several other passengers were reported to have sustained injuries. Citing a source at Bangladesh Railways, the Tribune reported that train services on the line resumed around 7.30 pm (local time).

Meanwhile, according to the report, three separate committees have been formed to probe the fatal train accident on Monday afternoon. A five-member inquiry committee was formed by Chittagong Railway, comprising COPS Md. Shahidul Islam, Chief Mechanical Engineer Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Chief Engineer Arman Hossain, Chittagong Superintendent of Police (CSP) Tushar, and Chief Medical Officer Ahad Ali Sarkar, the Dhaka Tribune reported quoting Siraj-Ud-Doula Khan, public relations officer of the Railway Ministry.

Another four-member divisional committee, led by the divisional transport officer, was formed to look into the circumstances leading up to the accident. This panel also comprises the divisional mechanical engineer, Locomotive, divisional engineer-1, and the divisional signal and telecommunications engineer. The PRO said the panels have asked to submit the report within three working days, the Tribune reported.

Rasel, a firefighter from Bhairab Bazar Fire Station, said such was the impact of the collision that two rear coaches of the Egarosindhur Godhuli train were damaged. Some eyewitnesses reported earlier that some passengers were trapped under the train, while the station master of Bhairab railway station, Yusuf, said the death toll was likely to rise, according to Dhaka Tribune.

"The incident took place around 3.30 pm (local time)," Yusuf said.