Train services to Khulna resume after 6 hours following oil tanker derailment in Chuadanga
The derailment occurred around 5:30pm in front of Uthali Secondary School, near Uthali Railway Station
Railway communications with Khulna and the rest of the country resumed nearly six hours after suspension today (4 July) due to a tanker of an oil-laden freight train derailing in Chuadanga's Jibannagar upazila.
Confirming the development, Chuadanga Station Master Yusuf Palash said the relief train from Ishwardi arrived at the scene at night and removed the derailed wagon from the track at around 10:30pm.
Afterwards, at 11:15pm, the stranded Sagardari Express bound for Rajshahi departed.
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Other stranded trains will gradually resume their journeys to their respective destinations, he added.
Passengers faced immense suffering due to the suspension of train services which disrupted travel and delayed passenger services, with many waiting for hours at stations and inside trains.
The incident occurred around 5:30pm near Uthali Secondary School, close to Uthali Railway Station.
"The freight train, carrying 32 oil tankers, had departed from Mongla bound for Sirajganj. One of the rear wagons went off the tracks, leading to a complete halt in train movement along the Khulna route," the station master had told The Business Standard.
Several trains, including the Dhaka-bound Nakshikatha commuter train and the Sagardari Express, were left stranded, causing delays and inconvenience to passengers.
By 6:30pm, railway workers had detached the unaffected bogies from the derailed section, allowing the rest of the freight train to continue its journey toward Chuadanga, Railway Station Master Yusuf said.
Recovery operations to remove the derailed wagon are currently underway as of filing this report at 10pm.
According to Chuadanga railway authorities, a relief train reached the station from Ishwardi around 10pm and they expect to restore full connectivity before midnight.
Meanwhile, local residents expressed concern over frequent derailments in the area, particularly involving freight trains. They noted that despite previous investigations, the root causes remain unaddressed.
Residents called on the railway authorities to carry out a thorough investigation and implement long-term safety measures to prevent further incidents.
