2 die in Sirajganj train collision, 3 suspended

At least two people were killed and 50 others injured in the early hours of Sunday as two inter-city trains collided head-on at Ullahpra railway station in Ullahpara upazila in Sirajganj.

Three railway officials have temporarily been suspended, and three committees have been formed to investigate the incident.
The collision between Ekota Express and Lalmoni Express took place at about 3:20am on Sunday. The railway communication between Dhaka and North Bengal has been snapped for this accident.

Ullapara fire station sub-officer Afsar Ali told Prothom Alo that the Lalmonirhat-bound train Lalmoni Express was waiting at the station while the Dhaka-bound Ekota Express from Dinajpur crashed into it, leaving three compartments of Ekota Express and a compartment of Lalmoni Express mangled.

Among the injured, two people died at the upazila health complex while the others were rushed to Bogra Medical College Hospital.

Railway police sources said the collision occurred as the driver of Ekota Express train drove the train on the same line due to wrong signal.

Seven compartments veered off the tracks, following the accident, which suspended Dhaka’s train communications with North Bengal and Khulna.

3 temporarily suspended

After the railway accident communications secretary Abul Kalam Azad, railway director general Tajaffal Hossain, western railway general manager Abdul Awal Bhuiyan and other senior officials came to the spot at about 10:00am. They suspended Ullapara stationmaster Nur Kutubuddin, Ekota Express driver Bankim Chandra Roy and assistant driver Abdus Sayif temorarily.

Investigation Committee
A five-member investigation committee headed by west zonal transport department director Shafiqur Rahman has been formed.  The committee has been ordered to submit probe report with in 24 hours.

Another four-member committee led by west zone railway chief operation superintendent Miya Jahan has formed. This committee has been appointed to submit report in three working days. 

On the other hand, a three-member committee headed by additional district commissioner Md Billal Hossain has been formed. It has to submit report in three working days.

Rescue initiatives

Fire service and police officials said the passengers who were trapped into the train compartments were rescued by Sunday morning. Fire service, police and local people joined in the rescue operation.

Fire service officer Afsar Ali said that Ekota Express train damaged more in the collision.

Ullapara fire station duty officer Buddhadev Sarkar said fire service members reached on the spot at about 2:00am.

On information, a rescue train from Ishwardi went to the accident spot.