At least two people were killed and 25 others injured Sunday night when wagons from a freight train detached and rammed three vehicles at the Khankhanapur rail crossing in Rajbari Sadar upazila.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Malek Sheikh, 45, of Baliakandi upazila, and Monowar Hossain Patwary, 50, of Goalanda in Rajbari’s Sadar upazila.
The accident occurred around 8:45pm when a freight train carrying fuel oil from Faridpur’s Dhuldi power plant broke apart, leaving four rear wagons separated from the engine and front section.
According to locals and police, a train carrying 30 empty wagons was returning to Rajbari after delivering fuel oil to the Faridpur Power Plant. As it crossed the Khankhanapur level crossing, the connecting chain of six rear wagons snapped, leaving them detached from the engine and front section.
Seeing the front part of the train pass with the engine, the gatekeeper assumed the entire train had crossed and raised the barrier.
At that moment, a bus bound for Daulatdia, a human hauler (Mahindra) heading towards Goalanda, and a battery‑run autorickshaw from the opposite direction tried to cross the tracks. The detached wagons, rolling at speed from behind, rammed into the vehicles.
Several teams from Khankhanapur Police Outpost, Ahladipur Highway Police Station, railway police, and Rajbari fire service rushed to the scene and began rescue operations.
Rajbari Fire Service Station Officer Md Shamim Molla said they received the call around 8:45pm and, with locals help, rescued the injured.
Four critically hurt victims were sent to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where Abdul Malek Sheikh and Monowar Hossain later died.
Doctors said that two others remain in critical condition, while other injured passengers were admitted to Goalanda Upazila Health Complex and different clinics.
Train services on the Rajbari–Dhaka route were suspended after the accident. Services resumed once the wagons and vehicles were cleared from the tracks. An investigation into the accident is underway.
