At least 12 killed as train smashes into bus at Cumilla crossing

The mangled bus is dragged nearly a kilometre by the train after the impact

At least 12 people have been killed and eight others injured when a train ploughed into a bus at a level crossing in Cumilla.

Inspector Saiful Islam of Cumilla EPZ Outpost said the crash occurred shortly before 3am Saturday at Paduar Bazar Crossing on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.

Dhaka Mail, which was bound for the capital from Chattogram, collided with a Mamun Special bus travelling from Chuadanga to Lakshmipur.

The train dragged the crumpled bus nearly a kilometre after the impact.

Inspector Islam said, “Upon receiving the report, the Fire Service and Railway Police rushed to the scene. Together, we recovered the injured and transported them to hospital.”

Asked about the cause, he added: “Investigations are ongoing, but it is believed the bus entered the railway line, which may have led to the accident.”

Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Mohammad Idris said they recovered three bodies from the scene and sent them to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

“Before our arrival, police and locals had recovered several more bodies,” he added.

Ajay Bhowmik, medical officer at the hospital’s emergency department, told bdnews24.com that the victims arrived around 4am.

“We found 12 dead, including a child and two to three women. The rest were men. At least eight injured are receiving treatment, many with head injuries and heavy bleeding,” he said.

Omar Faruk, an injured passenger admitted to hospital, said he had been sleeping when the bus suddenly jolted violently.

“When I looked around, the bus interior was crushed. I passed out at one point. I don’t know who brought me here,” he said, noting he had sustained a head injury and could barely speak.