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Two people were killed and at least six others injured after several detached wagons of a fuel-laden freight train rammed into a passenger bus, a Mahindra three-wheeler and an autorickshaw at a railway level crossing in Rajbari on Sunday night.
The accident occurred at around 8:45 pm at the Khankhanapur railway level crossing on the Dhaka–Khulna highway.
The injured were rescued and taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Monowar Patwari died on the way to the hospital, while Abdul Malek succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
According to railway officials, the freight train was travelling from the Dhuldi Power Plant in Faridpur to Khulna. The locomotive and several wagons crossed the Khankhanapur level crossing first. Believing the train had completely passed, the gatekeeper reopened the crossing.
Moments later, several wagons that had become detached from the main train rolled into the crossing and collided with a Mahindra, an autorickshaw and a passenger bus that were crossing the tracks.
The detached wagons dragged the Mahindra nearly 100 yards along the railway line, while the autorickshaw was crushed by the impact. The bus was also pushed onto the tracks. Eight critically injured people were rescued and taken to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
The crash disrupted traffic on the Dhaka–Khulna highway. Personnel from the Ahladipur Highway Police and the Fire Service carried out rescue operations, and traffic resumed after the damaged bus was removed from the crossing.
Rajbari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Uttam Kumar Ghosh confirmed that Monowar Patwari died on the way to the hospital, while Abdul Malek died later during treatment.
Rajbari Railway Assistant Executive Engineer Habibur Rahman said the freight train consisted of a locomotive, a guard’s brake van and 26 BTO wagons. The train became separated between the 21st and 22nd wagons while in motion, although the exact location of the separation has yet to be determined.
He said the gatekeeper reopened the crossing after assuming the train had passed completely. As vehicles began crossing the tracks, the gatekeeper noticed the detached wagons approaching and attempted to lower the barrier again but was unable to do so before the collision occurred.
Rahman said an investigation committee would be formed to determine the exact cause of the accident.