Dhaka's rail link with most of Bangladesh snapped after derailment in Tejgaon
Rail operations between Dhaka and most of the country were suspended after a train derailed hitting a crane in the Tejgaon area in the capital this evening.
Several persons, including the locomaster of the derailed Titas commuter train and the operator of the crane, were injured in the incident.
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The crane was working on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project.
The accident took place at a special level crossing in the Nakhalpara area when the crane was crossing the unguarded rail track, said witnesses.
A level crossing has been built there only for Elevated Expressway vehicles and transport goods for the project.
A gateman has been deployed by the expressway authorities but he did not lower the gate when the train was heading towards Dhaka, leading to the accident, Mohammad Sabbir, an administration officer of the expressway, told The Daily Star on the spot.
According to witnesses and passengers of the train, the crane skidded off around 20 yards after the train hit it. The locomotive also derailed creating panic among the passengers.
"The train derailed after it clashed with something. There was a loud bang. After it derailed, the train only came to a stop dragging for another 150 yards," said Md Masum, a passenger.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, said Sekendar Ali, sub-inspector of Dhaka Railway Police Station, without specifying how many were injured.
Khairul Kabir, divisional transport officer (Dhaka Division), said the incident has suspended train operations between Dhaka and other parts of the country, except the trains which run on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route and those which operate via Padma Bridge.
"We have already started rescue operations and hope to resume services soon," he said.
Contacted, AHM Akhtar, project director of Dhaka Elevated Expressway, said more time is needed to provide more details surrounding the incident.
"I will visit the spot to get the details," he added.
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