At least 12 people were killed as a train crashed into a bus on Purana Poil level-crossing in Joypurhat sadar upazila early Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Babul, 35, son of Gora Mia, Sarwar Hossain alias Babu, 41, son of Altab Hossain, Zia Hossain, 18, son of Miraz, Zulhash, 61, son of Shukur Ali,
Saju Mia, 35, son of Dudu Kazi, Arifur Rahman alias Rabbi, 22, son of Altaf Hossain,
Ramjan Ali, 42, son of Hichmi, Latif, 34, son of Shariful, Sumon, 43, son Rezaul Karim,
Rezaul Karim Reza, 45, son of Nishi Mandal, Manjurul Hasan alias Nasim, 28, son of Mosharraf Hossain and Saiful Islam, son of Aiatullah.
All of them hailed from different parts of the country.
Salam Kabir, superintendent of Joypurhat Police, said the accident occurred around 6:50 am when the Rajshahi-bound ‘Uttara Express’ train from Parbatipur hit the Hili-bound bus of ‘Badhan Paribahan’ at the unmanned level-crossing, leaving 10 people dead on the spot and nine others injured.
Five of the injured were taken to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital where two more died later.
Six compartments of the train veered off the track following the accident.
The train movement returned to normalcy after 3 pm, eight hours after its suspension, as a relief train from Parbatipur got the six compartments back on the rail track around 3 pm.
Meanwhile, two gatemen—Rahman and Nayan—who were supposed to be there on duty, went into hiding after the accident.
Khorshed Alam Soikat, chairman of Purana Poil union, said the rail gate was open during the accident.
Investigation ordered
Two probe bodies were formed to look into the accident.
Railway authorities formed a four-member committee, headed by Nasir Uddin, Chief officer of Railway West zone while the local administration formed a three-member body led by additional deputy magistrate (ADM) Reza Hassan.
The committees have been asked to submit their reports within three working days.
Train accidents in Bangladesh
Train accidents in Bangladesh happen frequently, many at unmanned level-crossings, and also because of the poor condition of tracks.
According to data provided by Bangladesh Railway in August last year, only 466 gates among its 1,412 level-crossings have gatekeepers.
In November last year, a deadly collision took place between Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express and Chattogram-bound Udayan Express on Dhaka-Chattogram route in Mandbagh Railway Station in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria.
The train crash left at least 16 people dead and over 100 others injured.
At least 113 people, including 26 women and 11 children, were killed in railway accidents between January 1 and June 30 this year, says a July report – jointly prepared by Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) and National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR).
