On Monday, October 23, 2023, a major accident took place just outside the bustling capital city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, when a freight train and a passenger train collided.
This incident resulted in the loss of 17 lives and left over 100 people injured. These numbers were verified by the fire services working in the vicinity.
Mosharraf Hossain, a fire department representative from Bhairab in the Kishoreganj district, where the collision started around 3:30 p.m., detailed the ongoing rescue operations. The rescue mission included not only the official rescue crews but also locals who joined hands to help pull out passengers from the wreckage.
Shedding light on the accident, Azizul Haque Rajon, a higher-ranking fire officer, explained that the last two compartments of the passenger train heading to Dhaka, named the Egarosindur Godhuli Express, were struck by a cargo train traveling to Chittagong. Rajon, communicating from the location of the accident, mentioned that they were still trying to ascertain how many passengers remained inside the damaged compartments.
It’s pertinent to mention that Bangladesh has seen its share of train-related accidents in the past. Issues like non-regulated railway crossings, deficient signaling mechanisms, and aging railway tracks have been identified as primary reasons.
Owing to this recent incident, train services connecting different areas of Bangladesh are currently on pause, affecting the regularity of transportation.
Given the magnitude of the crash, the fire department and other rescue agencies believe that the casualty count may further increase. The significant damage and the possibility of passengers being trapped make the rescue endeavors exceptionally complex. The immediate goal is to ensure the safe extraction of all passengers and offer them required medical support.
Determining the causes behind this significant mishap will be imperative. Detailed probes will help understand any lapses in existing safety guidelines and offer insights into improving the train infrastructure in Bangladesh.
