Bhairab train collision: Rail links with Dhaka restored after 6.30hrs

Rail communication on Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet, and Dhaka-Noakhali routes was restored 6.30 hours after a devastating train collision in Kishoreganj's Bhairab that killed at least 17 people and injured scores on Monday (23 October) afternoon.

Train movement resumed on a single track at around 10:30pm, Bangladesh Railway officials said, adding that rescue operations are still going on at Bhairab.

Bhairab accident causes schedule disruption for five trains

"Train movements were halted after the accident took place at around 4:00pm in Bhairab. Later, at around 10:00pm, train movement resumed on one line,"  said Jasid Uddin, duty master of Brahmanbaria railway station.

The accident in Bhairab occurred when Egarosindhur Express, a passenger train, collided with a freight train at Bhairab station, Bhairab railway police station Officer-in-Charge Alim Hossain Shikdar said.

"Dhaka-bound Egarosindhu Express train departed from Bhairab station this afternoon. It had switched tracks to enter a different line. 

"Before the entire train could complete its transition to the new line, another container train entered the same line and collided with the rear of the passenger train, causing several compartments to derail," said Alim Hossain Shikdar.

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) has suspended the locomaster, assistant locomaster, and guard of the freight train involved in the collision.

BR also formed two separate committees to investigate the incident, BR Director General Kamrul Ahsan told The Business Standard after visiting the scene. A probe committee has been formed at the divisional level and another at the regional level, Kamrul Ahsan said.