Train links between Khulna and the rest of Bangladesh was snapped after the accident. Officials said the train smashed the crowded bus, which was carrying the groom’s family and friends back from a wedding, at the Barobazar crossing. At least 50 passengers of the ill-fated bus were injured, many seriously. Doctors say the death toll may rise. Jhenaidah’s Deputy Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said the ‘Simanta Express’ travelling to Khulna from Syedpur was passing by the Barobazar level crossing around 3:45am. The bus carrying the bridal party drove on to the unmanned railway crossing without checking for a train. “The train ploughed through the bus and dragged it more than 1 kilometre along the tracks,” he further said. Local people, fire service and police began a rescue operation at the crash site and retrieved nine bodies, mostly of children and women. Thirty of those wounded were taken to Jessore Medical College and Hospital and the rest were admitted to Jhenaidah and Kaliganj hospitals. One of them died at Kaliganj hospital while doctors said 10 others were in critical condition. DC Shafiqul Islam the bus riders were returning to Phulhari village of Shailakupa Upazila after the wedding ceremony overnight at Sako Mothonpur in Kaliganj Jenaidah SP Jahidul Islam said they were looking into whether the negligence of the gateman at the crossing caused the crash. A salvage train from Khulna has started hauling the bus wreckage at the crash site. Accidents are common on the country’s rail network and are mostly blamed on poor maintenance and human error. There are hundreds of unmanned crossings across the country, especially in remote areas. Poor finances limit efforts by rail authorities to staff the dangerous crossings around the clock. – bdnews24.com
