Five dead as train crushes autorickshaw in Cox’s Bazar, four from same family

The autorickshaw got stuck to the front of the train and was dragged for nearly half a kilometre, authorities say

Five people, including women and children, have been killed when a train ploughed into an autorickshaw at a rail crossing in Cox’s Bazar’s Ramu.

Four of the victims were from the same family.

The accident took place around 1:30pm on Saturday at the Rashidnagar rail crossing when the Dhaka-bound Cox’s Bazar Express hit the three-wheeler, said Ramu Police Station chief Tayebur Rahman.

The dead have been identified as Renu Ara, 35, her sister Asma Ara, 13, her two sons -- 3-year-old Asheq Ullah and 1.5-year-old Ata Ullah -- all residents of Purbo Gomatoli in Pokkhali Union under Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila.

The fifth victim was the autorickshaw driver, 40-year-old Habib Ullah, from Eidgaon Upazila’s Meherghona.

Bodi Alam, a member of Rashidnagar Union Parishad (council), said the autorickshaw was crossing the railway line when the Cox’s Bazar Express struck it.

“The vehicle got stuck to the front of the train and was dragged for nearly half a kilometre. The victims’ bodies were mutilated and scattered across the area,” he said.

Akhtar Hossain, assistant station master at Ramu Railway Station, said: “The accident site is 12 kilometres from my station. It was likely at a level crossing.”

He explained that since level crossings like this are small, they have caution signs only instead of gates or barriers placed at major ones.

Enraged locals later blocked the tracks at Ramu's Panirchhara, halting the Cox’s Bazar-bound Tourist Express coming from Dhaka.

Police, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Army personnel worked to bring the situation under control. The protesters later allowed the train to leave at 4:50pm.

Akhtar confirms that the train has reached its destination.