11 killed as train hits microbus in Ctg

At least 11 people were killed after a speeding train hit a microbus at a level crossing in Mirsharai upazila of Chattogram on Friday.

Identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. One other passenger was injured while two others escaped unhurt.

“The incident took place around 1:40pm in the Bara Takia area,” said Chattogram Railway Police SP Hasan Chowdhury.

Confirming the figure of casualties, Mirsharai police station Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain said all the victims were passengers of the microbus.

Police and witnesses said the Chattogram-bound Mahanagar Provati rammed into the microbus while it was crossing the level crossing.

The vehicle was dragged several hundred metres down the railway track.

They were travelling back home at Aminbazar of Hathazari from touring the Khoiyachora Waterfall in the hills of Mirsharai, according to accounts of rescue workers.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) said the microbus was carrying 14 tourists.

The fire service members found 11 bodies on the spot and rescued another person who was whisked off to a hospital, according to the media cell of FSCD.

“Two other individuals escaped unhurt.”

Process of handing over bodies to the local police was underway, it added.

“There were 14 passengers on the microbus and two of them were rescued safely by members of two units of fire service deployed in the area”, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate.

“The identities of the deceased could not be known yet but they were all male aged between 20-30 years. They were all tourists heading toward Khoiyachora waterfall in Mirsharai from Aman Bazar area in Hathazari upazila,” he said.

“The microbus got on the rail track breaking through bamboo barrier at the level crossing and got hit by the train. Rail operation on the route remained suspended after the accident,” said Ansar Ali, transportation officer of Bangladesh Railway (east).

The divisional railway authority on Friday formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident.

Bangladesh Railway (east) Divisional Transport Officer (DTO) Ansar Ali has been made convener of the probe committee.

Ali said they will submit the report as soon as possible even if no specific time has been fixed yet.

“We have already started the investigation. Trying to submit the report within three-four days,” he added.

The other members of the committee are - Divisional Executive Engineer-1 Abdul Hamid, Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Loco) Zahid Hasan, Commandant of Railway Security Force Rezanur Rahman and Divisional Medical Officer (DMO) Md Anwar Hossain.

Meanwhile, the Railway police detained gateman Md Saddam Hussain who was in charge at Khoiyachora level crossing at the time of the accident, said Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mirsharai police station.

He said the railway gateman is in police custody and was being questioned.