Five killed in Gazipur train accident
Five people were killed when a train hit a bus, carrying garments factory workers in Gazipur’s Sripur upazila on early Sunday. At least 15 people were injured in the accident.
The accident occurred at Maizpara area on Dhaka-Mymensingh railway in the upazila at around 7.00am. The injured have been admitted in different hospitals of the district.
Sripur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Tariqul Islam confirmed the news of five deaths to Prothom Alo at around 11.00am. He said, three people died on spot after the accident. Two more died on the way to the hospital.
Among the deceased, identities of only one victim could be confirmed till 11.00am. That deceased garments worker named Rahima Khatun (23) was the wife of Julhas Mia from Baliapara village in Sripur upazila. She used to work as an operator at Sripur’s Zaman Fashion Wear Limited.
Two of the deceased are apparently aged between 40 and 42 years, said railway police sub inspector Rafiqul Islam.
Sripur upazila health Comple authorities revealed the names of several injured. They were identified as Zahid (24), Arman (17), Naeem (19), Bulu Hossain (34), Masuma (18), Farzana (20), Halima (25), Mahfuz (25), Shipon (17), Habibullah (16), Solema (19), Baby (40), Reshmi Akhter (30), Billal Hossain (20) and Akhir Hossain (20). All of them worked at different posts of Zaman Fashion Wear Limited in Sripur.
One of the injured said to Prothom Alo, they started for the factory on a factory bus to join the work on Sunday morning. When they arrived at Maizpara area in Barmi union at around 7.00am, a train hit the bus at the level crossing.
This injured most of the 25 passengers on the bus. One person died on spot. According to the victim, the barrier at the rail crossing was not lowered during the accident.
Sripur railway station master Harun-ar-Rashid said, Jharia–bound ‘Balaka Express’ train coming from Dhaka crossed Sripur railway station around 7.15am. Later, the accident occurred when it hit the bus at Maizpara rail crossing in Barmi union.