Cumilla rail crossing accident: Case filed against two railway workers

A case has been filed following the tragic accident in which a train struck a passenger bus at the Paduar Bazar railway crossing in Cumilla, resulting in the deaths of 12 passengers and injuries to at least 15 to 20 others. 

An injured survivor named Shefali Akhter lodged the case on Monday afternoon at the Laksam Government Railway Police Station. 

The accused named in the case are the dismissed gateman Helal Uddin and the Wayman Mehedi Hasan. 

Laksam GRP Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Jasim Uddin Khandaker confirmed this development to Daily Samakal over the phone.

Police reported that, with assistance from information technology and statements from the injured, authorities successfully identified the bodies of all 12 deceased passengers by Sunday afternoon. 

In response to requests from the families, the bodies were released without post-mortem examinations, and death certificates were issued to all of them.

Among the victims, the bodies of Laiju Akhter and her two young daughters, Khadija Akhter (6) and Mariam Akhter (4), were transported to Kamalnagar in Ramgati upazila of Lakshmipur district. 

Laiju's husband, Pintu, informed Daily Samakal on Monday afternoon that the three family members were buried side by side in a single grave at his in-laws' residence.

The remaining nine bodies were sent to the following locations: Babul Chowdhury to Sonaimuri in Noakhali; Sohel Rana to Jibannagar in Chuadanga; Sirajul Islam to Chougacha in Jessore; Kohinur Akhter to Chougacha in Jessore; Nazrul Islam Raihan to Noakhali Sadar; Sayeeda to Lakshmipur Sadar; Juad Biswas to Jhenaidah Sadar; Fasiar Rahman to Mohammadpur in Magura; and Tajul Islam to Kachua in Chandpur.

Several unnamed sources within the railway department stated that no railway personnel were present at the gate on the night of the accident, which occurred during Eid. 

Consequently, the bus driver failed to notice the lowered barriers on either side of the level crossing, proceeded across the tracks at speed, and collided with the oncoming train, leading to the heavy casualties. 

State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid Habib visited the site and publicly confirmed to the media that the two responsible railway employees had been dismissed. 

However, no officials at the Cumilla railway station were willing to comment on the matter pending the ongoing investigation.

Two separate probe committees have been formed—one from the Chittagong Divisional Railway and another from the Cumilla Zonal Railway—along with an additional committee formed by the Cumilla District Administration.

Officer-in-Charge Md. Jasim Uddin Khandaker of Laksam GRP Police Station noted that the case has been registered and that police will coordinate with the relevant railway authorities. 

He added that the two dismissed employees are currently absconding.

The accident took place in the early hours of Sunday, March 22, around 2:45 am, when a mail train travelling from Chittagong to Dhaka collided with the Mamun Paribahan passenger bus at the Paduar Bazar rail crossing in Cumilla. 

The bus was en route from Chuadanga to Lakshmipur.

The force of the impact carried the bus approximately half a kilometer along the tracks. Twelve people lost their lives, and around 20 sustained injuries.

According to Cumilla Medical College Hospital Director Dr. Md. Shah Jahan, 18 injured individuals received treatment at the facility. 

As of Monday noon, one additional injured passenger remained under care at the hospital, while two others had been transferred to Dhaka for more advanced medical care.