Crane overturns in Pabna: Dhaka’s rail link with northern, southern districts snapped

Rail communication of northern and southern districts with Dhaka has been suspended for nearly five hours now after a railway crane overturned in Bhangura upazila of Pabna.

Three intercity trains, carrying passengers, were stuck at different stations in the western zone, reports our local correspondent.

Md Mazaharul Islam, station master of Bhangura station in Pabna, told The Daily Star that a freight train was being loaded on the railway tracks at the Bhangura station area this afternoon. When the ground of the railway line crumbled during loading of repair supplies into the freight train, the crane ended up landing on top of it.

The crane overturned on the railway line around 3pm today, said Mazaharul, adding that this happened as the soil on the side of the railway line was wet and weak following the heavy rain in the last few days due.

Md Anwar Hossain, divisional transport officer, Paksey Division, Western Zone of the Railways, said rail communication between Dhaka with northern and southern districts was completely cut off after a crane overturned on the mainline connecting the north and south.

Passengers of Chitra Express, Drutojan Express, and Lalmonirhat Express trains were left stranded at various stations in the western zone of the railway. Recovery work has started and the train movement will return to normal as soon as possible, Anwar said.