Officials on Monday stated that at least twenty persons were killed and numerous more were injured when two trains crashed in Bangladesh, news agency PTI reported. A passenger train collided with a goods train near Bhairab, around 80 km from the capital Dhaka. Several individuals are believed to have been hurt in the accident, according to local media, which cited witnesses who stated several people were trapped under the train.
“Twenty bodies have been recovered so far. We are extending our all possible support to the rescue operations,” an official of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion was quoted by PTI in its report.
“We expect to find more bodies as well as injured passengers during the rescue process,” a fire service official said.
Local police official Sirajul Islam stated that the death toll might rise as rescue efforts continue.
According to witnesses, several passengers were trapped beneath the train, with numerous injured persons laying beneath the destroyed carriages.
According to Reuters, firefighters arrived on the scene and began a rescue effort. According to Bhairab Fire Station supervisor Mosharraf Hossain, the number of victims might rise. He stated that rescuers and locals began a rescue effort and that the remains of at least 12 persons were retrieved.
Bhairab Station Master Yusuf said: “The incident took place around 3.30pm. The death toll is expected to rise further. Rail connectivity from Dhaka to Chittagong, Sylhet and Kishoreganj is suspended,” the Dhaka Tribune reported.
"An initial report said that the freight train crashed into the Egaro Sindhur from behind, striking two of the carriages,” Anowar Hossain, superintendent of Dhaka Railway Police was quoted by PTI in its report.
Train accidents are widespread in Bangladesh, and they are frequently the result of inadequate signalling, carelessness, outdated rails, or other deteriorating infrastructure.
(With Inputs From Agencies)