Chattogram Rail Services Halted Following Cumilla Train Mishap

Bangla Press Desk:  Rail communication between Chattogram and the rest of Bangladesh has been suspended, disrupting services on one of the country's busiest routes.

The shutdown followed an engine failure on the Sonar Bangla Express and the derailment of four coaches of the Meghna Express in Cumilla on Wednesday.

The incidents occurred around 7:30pm near Hasanpur Station and in Gunabati, said Laksam Junction Station Master Omar Faruk.

He said rail services on the Chattogram route had been disrupted for more than an hour, adding that train movement would resume once at least one of the lines was cleared.

Nangalkot Station Master Jamal Uddin said the Dhaka-bound Sonar Bangla Express from Chattogram developed an engine fault shortly after passing Gunabati Station and became stranded near Hasanpur Station.

After receiving news of the breakdown, the Chandpur-bound Meghna Express, which had departed from Chattogram, was routed through the down line via Gunabati Station towards Hasanpur.

On the way, four coaches of the train derailed, he said.

Omar said a replacement engine had been dispatched from Chattogram for the Sonar Bangla Express.

He added that the remaining coaches of the Meghna Express were being taken to Laksam after the four derailed coaches were separated.

Train services are expected to resume once the recovery work is completed, he said.