Thousands suffer as train derails

Rail communications between Dhaka and the northern and southern districts remained suspended after a freight train derailed near Bangabandhu Bridge West Zone Railway Station in Sirajganj yesterday.

Over 35 thousand train passengers suffered much as 14 trains of both northern and southern districts remained stranded in different railway stations, sources said.

The train service snapped around 11:20am after six compartments and the engine of the cargo train derailed near the railway station, said Md Sayed Iqbal, officer-in-charge of Government Railway Police (GRP) in Sirajganj.

Train movement on both sides of Bangabandhu Bridge, the lone rail route of Dhaka with northern and southern districts, was halted as there is no double line on the bridge, said the OC.

A four-member inquiry committee was formed to probe into the incident, said Ashim Kumar Talukder, divisional railway manager of Pakshey division.

A relief train has already started rescue drive and it will take 7 to 8 hours to clear the line, he said.