Train tracks ripped up, crew flee

In a horrific train accident in the Santahar area of Bogura, railway tracks were ripped up and nine coaches of the Nil Sagar Express derailed. Police have reported that none of the train's staff, including the driver, were found at the scene after the accident.

Train services on Dhaka-Ishwardi-Dinajpur-Panchagarh route remain completely suspended after the accident, effectively cutting off rail communication between the capital and northern Bengal.

The incident occurred around 2:15 pm on Wednesday, March 18, after the train had left Santahar Junction, somewhere between Adamdighi and Santahar.

According to local sources, repair work was ongoing on the railway track at the accident site, and a red flag had been placed as a warning. However, the train entered the area at high speed, causing it to derail.

Over a hundred passengers who were on the train's roof and inside have been injured. The injured have been sent to various local hospitals, including Naogaon Sadar Hospital.

Santahar Railway Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Mahfuzur Rahman said work was ongoing on the track and a red flag was displayed. But the driver ignored it and drove the train at high speed, resulting in nine coaches derailing. No reports of casualties have been received so far.

He further informed that after the accident, the train driver and other staff fled the scene and could not be found.

Khadeeza Khanam, station master at Santahar, told Views Bangladesh that a red flag and signal had been placed in advance due to track repair work. "The driver may not have noticed the signal, or the accident may have occurred due to other reasons," she said.

"If I say directly now that the train met with the accident due to disobeying the signal, the driver will be directly blamed. Nothing can be said before the investigation," she added.

When asked when rail services might return to normal, Khanam said around 7:15 pm, "It cannot be said right now. Work is ongoing. Hopefully, rail services will normalise soon."

Naogaon Fire Service Inspector Rezaul Karim said four units responded to the scene upon receiving information and have already rescued several passengers and sent them to hospital. Rescue operations are still ongoing.