2 killed as detached train wagons ram vehicles at Rajbari crossing

Two persons were killed and at least 15 others injured when six detached wagons of an oil train rammed three vehicles at a railway crossing in Rajbari on Sunday night.

The deceased were identified as Monowar Patwari, 52, of Rajbari Sadar upazila; and Abdul Malek Sheikh, 46, of Baliyakandi upazila, police said.

According to locals, the accident occurred around 8:45pm when an oil train carrying 30 wagons was returning to Rajbari after supplying oil to a power plant in Faridpur. Before crossing the Khankhanapur railway crossing, the connecting chain of the train’s rear six wagons broke, separating them from the main train.

The gateman opened the railway crossing believing that the entire train had passed. At that moment, a passenger bus of Ananda Paribahan travelling from Daulatdia to Rajbari and a Mahindra were attempting to cross the railway line. The vehicles collided with the detached wagons coming from behind.

Police and fire service personnel, assisted by locals, launched a rescue operation after the accident.

Four of the injured were sent to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, while the others were admitted to Goalanda Upazila Health Complex.

Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway remained suspended for around an hour after the accident.

Md Habibur Rahman, assistant executive engineer of Rajbari Railway Station, said preparations were underway to form an investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident.