DHAKA: At least 66 passengers were injured in the derailment of the Nilsagar Express train in Bogura’s Bagbaria area, doctors said.
Of the injured, condition of one passenger was critical, Naogaon 100-bed Hospital’s Resident Medical Officer Abu Jar Gaffar told The Daily Star.
“So far, 60 injured passengers from the Nilsagar Express have sought treatment at our hospital. Of them, 40 received first aid and have left, while 20 remain admitted,” he said.
“Ten of these patients have suffered bone fractures. The critically injured passenger may require major surgery. We are considering referring them for advanced treatment elsewhere,” added the RMO.
Abdul Halim, RMO of Adamdighi Upazila Health Complex, told The Daily Star that six other passengers received treatment at their facility for minor injuries before being discharged.
Meanwhile, the assistant station master of Santahar Railway Station, Shahidul Islam, has been suspended for negligence of duty in connection with the derailment.
Santahar Station Master Khadija Begum confirmed the matter to The Daily Star.
In addition, a four-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the accident, said Ahmed Hossain Masum, member of the committee and chief engineer of Bangladesh Railway, Rajshahi.
Primarily, the accident is believed to have occurred due to a misunderstanding of signals, he said.
At around 2:00pm Thursday (March 19), eight bogies of the Nilsagar Express from Dhaka derailed at Bogura’s Bagbaria, about three kilometres from Santahar Railway Station.
Several bogies were badly damaged in the incident.
Station master of Bogura Railway Station, Sazedur Rahman Saju, told The Daily Star that it would take at least 8–10 hours to clear the line after two rescue teams from Pakshi and Parbatipur arrive.
Meanwhile, a rescue team from Parbatipur has reached Santahar Railway Station, said Khadija.
Train movement on the route remained suspended following the derailment, disrupting rail communication with eight districts of Rangpur and Dinajpur regions.
Around eight intercity trains operate on this route, said Saju. - The Daily Star/ANN
