Chittagong train services resume

Rail links between Chittagong and the rest of the country have been restored after remaining cut off for seven hours.

An oil-carrying freight train jumped the tracks at Sitakunda’s Fouzdarhat at 6am on Wednesday while on its way to the Dohazari Peking Power Plant.

Four wagons and the train’s engine fell on their sides, blocking two tracks, Chittagong Rail Station Manager Md Abul Kalam Azad told bdnews24.com.

Trains from Dhaka and Sylhet were unable to travel to Chittagong because of the blocked tracks.

The salvage operations began soon after the derailment but it took until 1am to remove the oil wagons from one of the tracks, clearing the way for Suborno Express to start for Dhaka at 1:15pm, said Azad.

“We have cleared one of the tracks and train service has resumed on it. The other line will be free once we make repairs and complete the restoration,” said Bangladesh Railway East Zone Chief Engineer Abdul Hye.

He said a four-member body had been formed to probe the derailment.

The train’s driver Uttam Kumar Bhattacharya and his assistant Bidar Ali were suspended on charges of negligence, said Divisional Railway Manager SM Murad Hossain.

Meanwhile, authorities have cancelled Mahanagar Prabhati’s trip from Chittagong to Dhaka and Karnaphuni Express’s passage to Chandpur.

Passengers who bought tickets are being given refunds, said Azad.

Dhaka-bound trains ‘Suborno Express’ and ‘Chattala’ along with Chandpur-bound ‘Sagarika’ were waiting to start, he added.

But trains that have travelled from Dhaka – Intercity Turna Nishitha, Chittagong Mail and Sylhet’s Udayan and Mahanagar Goduili are still stuck at various stations.