Three killed in Dinajpur train collision

Three passengers of a private car were killed when a Panchagarh-bound Kurigram Express train from Dhaka hit them at Ghoraghat Rail Crossing in Dinajpur.

The accident took place at the rail crossing on the Birampur-Hakimpur railway line at 8am on Wednesday, Birampur Police Station OC Sumon Kumar Mohonta told reporters.

Hili GRP police said the Kurigram Express train was heading towards Parbatipur from Dhaka. When it approached Ghoraghat railway gate of Birampur, a private car was crossing the railway gate. 

The driver of the private car and two passengers were killed on the spot when the train hit them, he added.

Preparations are being made for autopsy after retrieving the bodies of the deceased.

OC Sumon Kumar Mahonta said one of the three killed was identified as Hafizul Islam, hailed from Badarganj of Rangpur.

Witnesses said the rail gate could not be seen in the thick fog in the morning and also there was no gateman at the rail gate that caused the accident.

However, denying the allegation, Saifuzzaman, the gatekeeper, said, “Repair work of the railway gate was going on. So the gate was closed with rope when the train arrived. But the driver of the private car did not notice it and drove the car through the railway line.”