Rail link with northern region restored after nearly 7 hours

The country’s rail communication with the northern districts was restored on Monday morning, more than 6.5 hours after a train derailed in Joypurhat.

The power car of the Dhaka-Kurigram “Kurigram Express” went off its course after crossing the Halhalia Rail Bridge at Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat around 3:30am, and stopped more than a kilometre away.

No major casualty was reported in the incident.

The train’s passengers alleged that cracks on the rail line on the eastern side of the Halhalia bridge caused the derailment. A major accident could have taken place if the crew had failed to stop the power car at the right time, some passengers told reporters.

The power car was stopped at the Bhadrakali Chakgurnath area.

Akkelpur Railway Station Master Hasibul Hasan said a relief train from Parbatipur, Dinajpur hauled the affected power car to the station. The Simanta Express left the Santahar Junction after the derailed power car was moved away, Hasibul claimed.