At least eight passengers were injured as three compartments of Rangpur Express caught fire after the derailment of the intercity train in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj this afternoon. 

Six units of Fire Service and Civil Defence with the help of the locals managed to dowse the fire around 5:00 pm, three hours after the incident, our Pabna correspondent reports from the spot.

Rail link of Dhaka with the northern and southwestern districts of the country was suspended following the incident. However, rail communication partly resumed at 8:30 pm.

Six compartments and engine of the Rangpur-bound train veered off the tracks around 2:10 pm while it was passing through Ullahpara Railway Station, said Shariful Alam, senior information officer of the railway ministry.

The engine and two derailed compartments caught fire as oil tank of the train exploded, the official said.

A relief train from Pabna’s Ishwardi left to salvage the derailed train around 3:15 pm.

Photo: Collected

The reason behind the accident could not be determined immediately. But, Rakibul Islam, station master of Ullahpara Railway station claimed that there were no faults in giving the signal.

“Maybe the driver made any mistake or there was any problem with the movement of the train, but we didn’t make any mistake in giving the signal,” Rakibul said.

4 probe committees formed

Four probe committees have been formed to investigate into the incident.

Pakshi Railway Division formed a five-member committee headed by Divisional Transportation Officer (DTO) Md Abdulla Al Mamum.

The local administration has formed another committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (DC) Firoz Mahmud.

Besides, Bangladesh Railway formed a central probe body while railways’ West Zone office formed another.