Four die in Tongi train accident

Four people have been killed after a commuter train from Jamalpur to Dhaka was involved in an accident in Tongi.

Rail service to and from Dhaka to the rest of the country has been halted, except on the Narayanganj line.

The accident occurred in Tongi’s Notunbazar area around 12:15pm on Sunday, said Joydepur Railway outpost SI Md Raqibul Islam.

The last four carriages of the train derailed and were dragged along for some time due to the speed of the train, he told bdnews24.com. Two of the carriages overturned onto another rail line, he said.

A train travelling from Jamalpur to Dhaka was involved in an accident in Tongi on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of four. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

Three passengers died on the spot and several others were injured, said Kamlapur Railway Police Station OC Md Yaseen.

The line was closed after the accident, cutting off rail service from Dhaka to Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh and via the Bangabandhu Bridge to the north and south, he said.

Seven victims were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where Md Shahadat, 38, was announced dead, said DMCH Medical Outpost ASI Babul Mia.

The six others admitted to the hospital are Badol, 28, Shobuj, 40, Israfil, 12, Alamgir, 32, Badol, 50, and Md Sharif, 28.

Four carriages of a train travelling from Jamalpur to Dhaka derailed in Tongi on Sunday. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

The fire service recovered the three bodies and have handed them over to police. Their identities have yet to be confirmed.

The Railway Ministry has formed a three-member probe to investigate the cause of the accident.

Ministry official Md Shariful Alam told bdnews24.com that Railway Eastern Region Chief Engineer Md Arifuzzaman is to lead the probe. The committee has been ordered to submit their report within three days.