Train derailment in Bogura: One coach recovered, services to resume in five hours

Railway authorities have said it could take up to five hours to clear the derailed Nil Sagar Express coaches and resume normal operations.

Rail services between Dhaka and northern districts remain suspended after nine carriages of the Nil Sagar Express, bound for Chilahati, derailed around 2:00pm near Santahar in Bogura on Wednesday afternoon (March 18).

Following the derailment, relief trains dispatched from Ishwardi and Parbatipur arrived at the site by 7:00pm Wednesday and immediately began recovery operations.

Master Khadija Khatun of Santahar Junction said the work is ongoing, with services expected to resume after midday Thursday.

Bogura Superintendent of Police Mirza Sayem Mahmud visited the site on Wednesday night, directing local police to maintain passenger safety and ensure smooth operations during recovery.

Medical authorities reported that over 100 passengers received treatment at Nawabganj Sadar Hospital. Of these, 30 were admitted for further care, while the rest received first aid and were discharged, according to resident medical officer Abujar Gaffar.

To mitigate disruption, railway authorities arranged alternative transport options for affected passengers. On the Dhaka–Panchagarh route, services including Panchagarh Express, Ekta Express, and Drutajan Express were deployed. Passengers on the Khulna–Nilphamari route were accommodated via Simanta and Rupsha Express. Additional rerouting was implemented on Parbatipur, Rajshahi, and Chilahati lines to ensure passengers could reach their destinations.

The derailment disrupted train operations between Dhaka and five northern districts. Some services, including Kurigram Express and Banglabandha Express, were partially rescheduled or canceled.