News Desk :
At least 11 people died and seven others were critically injured as a train hit a microbus at a rail crossing in Mirsharai of Chattogram on Friday.
The accident occurred at around 1:45pm at the unmanned level crossing near Bara Takia railway station, said Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mirsharai police station.
The microbus tried to cross the rail crossing forcefully, ignoring the gateman’s request, when the train hit the vehicle, leaving 11 people dead on the spot, Jahangir Hossain, general manager (East) of Bangladesh Railway, told the media.
However, Mirsharai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Minhazur Rahman said there was no gateman at the crossing when the accident happened.
The victims were all residents of Yunus Nagar area under Chikondondi union of Hathazari upazila.
All of the passengers are teachers and students of a coaching centre named R&J Private Care in the Hathazari area of Chattogram.
The private vehicle was carrying a total of 18 passengers and seven others were injured in the accident.
They were on their way back after visiting Khaiyachhara waterfall when the Chattogram-bound Probhati Express train hit their microbus and dragged it for at least one kilometer, according to Shahidul Islam, a witness.
Four of the deceased are tutors at the coaching centre. They are Chittagong College students Ridwan, 25, and Rakib, 18, and Cantonment Public College students Sajeeb, 22, and Jisan, 22.
The duo Ridwan and Jisan launched the coaching centre in February this year.
“All their students are SSC examines. The coaching centre’s students and teachers journeyed together for a picnic,” said Sarwar Hossain Khan, Rakib’s uncle.
Five of the injured were admitted to Chittagong Medical’s neurosurgery
ward, they are Hridoy,15, Mahin, 16, Tashmir, 16, Ayat, 15, and Saikat 16. One other injured named Emon, 15, was admitted to a separate ward.
Nibedita Ghosh, an on-duty doctor in the emergency department at Chittagong Medical College Hospital said, the condition of one is critical.
Later on Friday evening, police detained Saddam Hossain, the gateman of the crossing, in the incident, said Chittagong Railway police station OC Md Nazim Uddin.
Rail connectivity in the Dhaka-Chattogram route is suspended.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has formed a five-member committee to investigate the cause of the accident. The committee headed by Railway East Zone Deputy Director (Traffic Commercial) Ansar Ali has been asked to submit an inquiry report within seven days.
Meanwhile, Saddam Hossain, the gateman of the level crossing at Bara Takia in Mirsharai – a place where a speedy train rammed a microbus, killing 11 passengers on the spot – has been detained.
Police have detained him from Bara Takia area at around 6:00pmon Friday.
Confirming the development, Chattogram Railway police station officer in charge MdNazim Uddin said Saddam has been detained for being absent at the level crossing. The preparation of filing case is underway.
Police and eyewitnesses said the microbus met the tragic mishap while returning from Khaiachara waterfall in Mirsharai. The train rammed into the vehicle and dragged it about a kilometre away.
The deceased included the students of RNJ coaching centre, its teachers and microbus driver. The coaching centreorganised a trip to Khaiachara, marking the farewell of SSC examinees. There were also some HSC students in the vehicle.
Mirsharai police station officer in charge (OC) Kabir Hossain said that Chattogram-bound Mahanagar Provati express hit the microbus, leaving 11 people dead on the spot. Three were injured critically. They all are the residents of Amanbazar area of Hathazari in Chattogram.
Transport officer of railway east zone MdAnsar Ali said that an investigation will be carried out to probe whether there was any lineman or not.
Actions would be taken if the lineman was absent during the accident.
