Newlywed couple among at least 10 killed as train ploughs into microbus in Sirajganj

A train has ploughed into a microbus carrying a wedding party in Sirajganj’s Ullapara, killing at least 10 people, including the just-wed bride and groom, and injuring two others.

The Dhaka-bound Padma Express from Rajshahi hit the vehicle at a level-crossing at Shahikola under Panchakroshi union near the Salop Railway Station in the Upazila about 6:45pm on Monday, a Fire Service and Civil Defence Official said.

The train dragged the microbus about 200 metres after hitting it at the unmanned level-crossing, Ullapara Fire Station Leader Nazir Hossain said.

All the dead were on the microbus and included two women and a child, he said.

The dead were identified as the groom Rajon Sheikh, 22, bride ‘Sumaiya’, 18, Rajon’s cousin ‘Alik’, 10, relatives Abdus Samad, 50, ‘Shakil’, 20, Mamata Khatun, 35, Noor Al, 35, Bhsha Sheikh, 55, Abdul Ahad, 25, and driver ‘Swadhin’, 30.    

The train left after the devastated microbus was removed from the tracks, fire service’s Nazir said about 9pm. 

The microbus was carrying the wedding party back to Rajon’s home at Uttor Kandapara in Sadar Upazila after the marriage ceremony at Sumaiya’s home at Guchchhogram in Ullapara, according to Ullapara Police Station OC Dewan Koushik Ahmed.

The bodies were sent to Sirajganj General Hospital mortuary, he said.

Eight of the victims died on the spot while Bhasha on way to the hospital and Ahad died during treatment, doctor Roknuzzaman at the hospital said.

One of the injured, Nazmul Ahsan, was admitted to the hospital while the other, ‘Sumon’, 25, was sent to Dhaka in critical condition, the doctor said.