Staff Reporter :
Train services between capital Dhaka and northwest region remained suspended since Sunday morning as a railway bridge was partly damaged in Kalihati upazila of Tangail district due to the onrush of floodwater.
A portion of a rail bridge on the Pouli River in Kalihati upazila collapsed as strong current of floodwater eroded soil.
Station Master of Gharinda Railway Station Jalaluddin said they noticed the matter around 5:30 am on Sunday and stopped the train movement through the bridge.
As a result, around six to seven trains got stuck on both sides of the bridge, said Jalaluddin, adding that a team is working to repair the bridge as soon as possible
The Dhaka bound-train ‘Nilsagar Express’ coming from Nilphamari also got stuck near the bridge.
The driver stopped the train near the bridge after local people gave danger signal flying red flag early in the morning, said the local people. Dhaka-bound Rangpur Express got stuck at Bangabandhu Bridge East Railway Station while Dhaka-bound Ekota Express from Dinajpur could not move at Bangabandhu Bridge West Railway Station and Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express from Dhaka at Joydebpur railway station, a Railway Official said.
The disruption left hundreds of passengers stranded on both sides and at the train stations causing untold sufferings to them. “Around 20 feet area of the basement of Pungli river rail bridge partly collapsed due to an onrush of floodwater little after Sundarban Express, a Dhaka-bound inter-city train from Khulna, crossed the bridge,” he said.
Efforts were underway to complete repairs and resume services as soon as possible, said Bangladesh Railway Western Rajshahi Region Executive Engineer Ramzan Ali.
Railway Minister Mujibul Haque who visited the spot on Sunday told journalists that the train communication between Dhaka and northwest region would resort by Monday.
“We are working round the clock to make Eid journey smooth,” he said.
Director General of Bangladesh Railway Amzad Hossain said the rail links of Dhaka with north and south parts of the country will be restored by Monday.
He said this while talking to journalists during his visit at Kamalapur Railway Station yesterday.
Expressing his hope, the DG said, “Repair work will be completed in a day. We are trying very fast.”
All the trains to northern and southern districts were cancelled as part of a railway bridge was damaged in Kalihati upazila, he said.
Meanwhile, a relief train from Joydebpur has already started repairing work while another train started from Pakshey of Pabna for Tangail to restore rail communication, an official said.
