Train collision kills 16

At least 16 people were killed and over one hundred injured as Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita Express from Chattogram crashed into Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet at Mondobagh Railway Station in Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria early Tues-day. The bodies of 15 deceased out of 16 were handed over to their relatives. The unidentified body of a woman was kept at the mortuary of Cumilla CMH.

The rail communication remained suspended with Chattogram and Sylhet from 3am on Monday night to 11am on Tuesday. Rail services were restored to the Dhaka-Chattogram and Chattogram-Sylhet routes after eight hours as a relief train came to the spot and removed the damaged compartments. Repairing of the damaged rail tracks was going on till writing the report.

On information, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Hayat-Ud-Dowla Khan and Police Super Mohammad Anisur Rahman rushed to the spot and monitored the rescue operation. Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujon and Rail Secretary Mofazzal Hossain visited the spot Tuesday morning. Five separate committees have been formed to find out the reason behind the accident.

Turna Nishita's loco master Taser Uddin, assistant loco master Apu Dey and working guard Abdur Rahman were suspended over the incident.

The deceased are: Majibur Rahman, 55, son of Abdul Jalil of Hajiganj upazila, Kakoli, 20, wife of Moin Uddin of Haimchar upazila, Kulsum Begum, 30, wife of Mojibur Rahman of Hajiganj upazila, Mariam Begum, 6, daughter of Jahangir of Haimchar upazila, Farzana, 15, daughter of Billal Miaji of Uttar Balia in Chandpur district, Yeasin Arafat, 12, of Bahula,

Ripon Mia, 25, son of Azmatullah, Sujon Ahmed, 24, son of Abdul Hashim of Chunarughat upazila, Al Amin, 30, son of Ayub Hossain of Baniachang upazila, Ali Mohammad Yusuf, 32, of Anwarpur, Piyara Begum, wife of Abdus Salam of Chunarughat upazila, Adiba, 2, daughter of Sohel of Borobazar in Habiganj district, Zaheda Khatun, 48, wife of Muslem Mia of Sreemangal upazila in Moulvibazar district, Robi Haridhan, 25, son of Shankar Haridhan of Noakhali district and Sohamoni, 3,daughter of Sohel Rana of Brahmanbaria district.

Witnesses and railway sources said, "Turna Nishita started for Mandbhagh from Shashidal Railway Station around 2:48am. It was signaled to stop at the outer. At the same time, Udayan was approaching Mandbhagh from Kasba Railway Station and it was signaled to enter line-1."

Zaker Hossain Chowdhury, stationmaster of Mandbhagh, claimed that the accident took place as Turna Nishita continued to run ignoring the signal.

Visiting the spot, Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan announced compensation of Tk 1 lakh for the families of each deceased and Tk 10,000 for each injured while the district administration also declared Tk 25,000 for the burial of each deceased.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages, expressed profound shock at the deaths in the fatal collision.Both of them extended deep condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the accident and prayed for the eternal peace of the victims.

---Ashiqur Rahman Mito, Brahmanbaria