Train crash death toll rises to 16

Rescue efforts at the site of the accident following a collision between Dhaka-bound Turna Nishitha and Chattogram-bound Udayan Express at Mandbagh area of Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria on 12 November 2019. Photo: Prothom Alo
Rescue efforts at the site of the accident following a collision between Dhaka-bound Turna Nishitha and Chattogram-bound Udayan Express at Mandbagh area of Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria on 12 November 2019. Photo: Prothom Alo

The death toll in a collision between two trains in Brahmanbaria early Tuesday has climbed to 16.

Deputy commissioner of the district Hayat Ud Dowla confirmed this to Prothom Alo in the morning.

The accident occurred when Dhaka-bound Turna Nishitha from Chattogram and Chattogram-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet collided around 3:00am, according to the railway station officials and witnesses.

The two trains came on the same track because the driver of Turna Nishitha violated a signal given at the Mandbagh railway station, mangling three compartments of the Udayan Express, they added.

Five of the victims have been identified as Al Amin, 28, from Madanpur village of Baniachong upazila of Habiganj, Mojibur Rahman and his wife Kulsum Begum from Hajiganj upazila of Chandour, Adiba Akter, 2, daughter of Sohel Mia from Borobazar of Baniachong and Md Yousuf from Baniachong.

More than 100 passengers sustained injuries in the deadly accident. The bodies have been taken to Kasba Upazila Health Complex, Brahmanbaria Sadar Hosptial and Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, train services have been halted along Dhaka-Chattogram, Chattogram-Sylhet, Noakhali-Dhaka and Noakhali-Sylhet routes.

Three units of the fire service from Kasba, Akhaura and Brahmanbaria as well as railway police and BGB men have been carrying out the rescue operations.