Pedestrian killed as metro’s load-bearing pad strikes again at Farmgate
5-member probe committee formed; Tk5 lakh assistance was announced for victim’s family
A pedestrian was killed today (26 October) when a Dhaka metro rail's load-bearing pad, designed to prevent vibration during train operations, came loose and fell on him.
The incident occurred around 12:15pm near the Farmgate metro station, said Fazlul Karim, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Tejgaon Division.
The deceased was identified as 35-year-old Abul Kalam from Shariatpur.
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Witnesses said the heavy pad suddenly fell while Kalam was walking along the footpath carrying a bag. It struck him on the head before hitting a nearby tea-and-snack shop, shattering its glass front and injuring two others. Kalam died instantly.
Metro rail operations were suspended until 3pm before they were partially resumed.
Mohammad Sohan, who was in a nearby building, told The Business Standard, "At around 12:15pm, there was a sudden loud bang. When I rushed to the spot, I saw a man had died. The spring had hit the back of his head."
Naim Hasan added, "The whole area shook right after the incident. People panicked. When we came closer, we saw that a man had died."
The government has announced Tk5 lakh in immediate financial assistance for the family of Kalam. It has also said it will bear all funeral expenses and employ a family member at the metro rail company. However, the announcement has sparked widespread criticism on social media.
Fouzul said the committee, headed by Bridges Division Secretary Abdur Rouf, has been asked to submit its report within two weeks.
"They will review the previous investigation report and identify why such incidents are recurring," the adviser told reporters after visiting the accident site.
Metro operations suspended
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the metro, said in a Facebook post that rail services were temporarily suspended due to a technical fault. The post apologised for the "temporary inconvenience caused to passengers" and asked commuters to remain patient.
DMTCL authorities told TBS that the cause of the accident is still unknown, adding that a maintenance team is working to fix the issue and resume operations. The spring came loose from pillar number 433 of the metro rail.
DMTCL Managing Director Faruque Ahmed said, "It is currently not possible to keep the metro rail line operational between Farmgate and Motijheel. However, steps are being taken to resume operations on the Agargaon-to-Uttara section shortly."
Uttara-Agargaon operations resumed at 3pm today.
Regarding the remaining portion, he said, "Efforts are underway to restart it today, but it will take some time to complete the necessary work."
He added that one side of the track had slightly sunk after the bearing pad fell.
Hundreds of thousands of daily commuters were affected, with many forced to travel by road, increasing traffic congestion in some areas.
Investigation launched
Authorities launched a probe into the incident, with the metro rail technical team working to resolve the issue in the afternoon.
Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan visited the site with officials. "A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the accident," he said.
The committee, headed by Bridges Division Secretary Abdur Rouf, has been asked to submit a report within two weeks. "They will review the previous investigation report and identify why such incidents are recurring," the adviser added.
He also said metro rail operations will continue between Uttara North and Agargaon while the investigation is underway.
Safety Concerns
The incident occurred roughly 13 months after a similar event on 18 September 2024, when a bearing pad fell from the viaduct, suspending train services between Agargaon and Motijheel for 11 hours. That incident had raised serious safety concerns regarding metro rail design and maintenance.
Experts at the time pointed to a possible design flaw, noting the pad fell at a curve where trains exert additional pressure. Last year, Prof Hadiuzzaman of BUET's Accident Research Institute told Somoy News, "The viaduct was installed without securing the rubber pad to hold the bearings. As a result, the rubber pad could not handle the extra pressure."
He recommended using more pressure-resistant, advanced technology pod bearings.
He further explained the function of bearing pads to Dhaka Tribune, saying, "The bearing pad's job is to compress slightly when a vehicle passes over it and then return to its original position. Since the viaduct has not returned to its original state, it indicates that either the bearing pad has lost its functionality or fallen off."
Bearing pad functions
Bearing pads are placed at curved sections of the viaduct, where trains exert extra pressure. They support train weight, absorb lateral forces, and reduce vibrations caused by directional changes.
Failure in these pads compromises load distribution and flexibility, increasing stress on pillars and joints, and raising the risk of structural damage. They also protect against shocks, vibrations, and seismic activity.
In short, failures in high-pressure, curved sections of the viaduct pose much greater risks than at straight sections.
