Train-truck collision leaves 2 dead in Dinajpur

Two people were killed when a Dhaka-bound train collided with a stone-laden truck at an unmanned railway crossing in Birampur, Dinajpur, earlier on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Arif Hossain, 40, the truck driver, and Mahabur Rahman, 45, the helper — both from Bhajanpur village in Tetulia, Panchagarh.

The accident occurred around 1:00am due to heavy fog and the absence of a gateman at the crossing, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) Momtazul Haque of Birampur Police Station, quoting witnesses.

The truck's helper died on the spot, the OC said adding that police transported the injured driver to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where he later died.

According to witnesses, the Dhaka-bound Ekota Express (Dhrutojan) from Panchagarh collided with the Bogura-bound truck as it was passing the railway tracks.

Due to the absence of a gateman, the truck moved onto the tracks just as the train was passing, resulting in a fatal collision, police said.

The truck was completely crushed by the train, the OC said.

This railway crossing had previously witnessed a fatal accident on February 2, 2022, when three people died after a train hit a private car.