Upaban Express engine breaks down in Moulvibazar, train service resumes after 3 hours

The engine of the Sylhet-bound Upaban Express train has caught on fire in Moulvibazar’s Kamalganj, disrupting rail communication with Sylhet for three hours.

The engine of the train, which had left Dhaka from Purba Kalipur village, near Shamshernagar Railway Station in the Upazila, caught fire around 6am on Tuesday, said Sagar Kumar Singh, assistant master of Shamshernagar Railway Station.

Witnesses said that the fire started when engine oil dripped off the engine. When the train came to an emergency stop as they tried to bring the situation under control, panic spread among the passengers. However, due to immediate action, major casualties were averted. The passengers were safely deboarded and the fire was brought under control.

Sreemangal Railway Station Master Shakhawat Hossain said that train services on this route were suspended for three hours due to the engine failure of the Upaban Express train. Apart from Upaban, the Kalni Express train departing from Sylhet for Dhaka was also stranded.

Assistant Station Master Sagar Kumar Singh said that the trapped Upaban Express train was rescued by the engine of the Dhaka-bound intercity Kalni Express train that left Sylhet. Later, the Upaban Express stopped at Shamshernagar and train services were normalised at 9:10am.

He also said that an alternative engine will be brought in to take the Upaban Express train to Sylhet at a later time.