Cumilla rail crash victims identified

The identities of the 12 individuals who lost their lives when a moving train struck a bus at an unprotected railway crossing in Cumilla have now been confirmed, as announced by the authorities of morgue of Cumilla Medical College Hospital. 

Among the deceased, five were residents of Jessore district: Laiju Akhter, 26, along with her two young daughters Khadija, 6, and Mariam, 3, all from Jessore, as well as Sirajul Islam, 70, and Kohinoor Begum, 55, both from Chaugachha in Jessore district.

Two victims hailed from Noakhali district: Babul Chowdhury, 55, from Sonaimuri, and Nazrul Islam Raihan, 45, son of Md. Selim from Fazilpur.

The remaining victims include Tajul Islam, 67, son of Mominul Haque from the Chapatli area of Chandpur district; Juhad Biswas, 24, son of Moktar Biswas from Jhenaidah district; Fachiar Rahman, 26, son of Wahab Sheikh from Mohammadpur in Magura district; Sohel Rana, 25, son of Billal Hossain from Jiban Nagar in Chuadanga district; and Saida, 9, daughter of Sirajul Islam from Lakshmipur district Sadar.

The tragic collision took place at approximately 2:45 am on Sunday at the Paduar Bazar railway crossing in Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Upazila along the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. 

A Dhaka-bound One Up train collided with a bus from Mamun Special Paribahan travelling from Chuadanga to Lakshmipur. The impact dragged the bus nearly half a kilometer, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and injuring 10 to 15 passengers.

Rescue efforts commenced after a train from Akhaura arrived at the site around 8 am on Sunday, and the damaged train was subsequently moved to Cumilla railway station by about 10:30 am. 

Rail traffic resumed normally after 11 am, allowing stranded trains such as the Mahanagar Prabhati and Karnaphuli to proceed to their destinations.

Law enforcement presence increased at the scene from Sunday morning. Observations at 9 am revealed that the railway crossing barriers remained intact on both sides, with broken bus glass scattered around and two bus wheels displaced 10 to 12 yards along the tracks. 

A nearby railway staff room (E-47) was found locked.

The gateman on duty reportedly fled following the incident. 

Railway authorities suspended two gatemen, Mehedi Hasan and Helal Uddin, as confirmed by Mostafizur Rahman, Divisional Manager of the Chittagong Division of the Railway. 

He stated that two investigation committees—one divisional and one zonal—have been formed, with inquiries underway and departmental actions to follow based on findings regarding any negligence.

A PBI inspector investigating the site informed that statements from injured survivors and local inquiries confirm the bus entered the tracks because the gateman failed to close the gate, allowing the train to drag it for at least half a kilometer.

An unnamed engineer from the Cumilla Railway Department involved in rescue operations suggested that, although staff are present 24 hours at busy crossings, the gateman may have forgotten to lower the gate during the night.

Cumilla Deputy Commissioner Md. Reza Hasan reported that 18 injured individuals received primary treatment and were discharged, while five remain admitted at Cumilla Medical College Hospital. 

The district administration will provide Tk 25,000 to the family of each deceased person.

Three separate investigation committees have been formed: one by the district administration with a five-member panel headed by Additional District Magistrate Md. Zafar Sadiq Chowdhury, one by the railway, and another joint effort.

At Cumilla Medical College Hospital, Emergency Department Medical Officer Ajay Bhowmik noted that casualties arrived around 4 am, with the 12 bodies—seven men, two women, and three children—were kept in the morgue.

Cumilla EPZ outpost in-charge Mohammad Saiful Islam mentioned receiving the accident report around 3 am, after which casualties were rescued and transported to the hospital, with the possibility that the death toll could rise.

Local resident Shahenaz Akhter described hearing a loud noise at 2:45 am, prompting her to rush to the tracks where railway staff had begun rescue efforts. Area residents responded to the cries of the injured, followed by the arrival of fire service and police teams.

Injured survivor Tafazzal Hossain recounted waking to a tremendous crash and being taken to the hospital in a bloodied state by police.

Survivors and locals attributed the crash to negligence by the railway signalman or gateman. 

Reports indicated that emergency calls to 999 went unanswered multiple times after the incident.

Police, fire service, and railway police responded promptly upon notification, initiating rescue operations and transferring the injured to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Mohammad Idris stated that initial assessments point to the bus driver's error in attempting to cross, though fire personnel recovered three bodies from the scene and sent them to the hospital, after police and locals had already moved several others.