Train services on the Dhaka-Chattogram route were suspended for over an hour on Wednesday following two separate incidents in Cumilla’s Nangalkot upazila, disrupting rail communication between Chattogram and the rest of the country and causing widespread passenger suffering.
Railway officials said the engine of the Sonar Bangla Express became disabled near Hasanpur station after crossing Gunabati, while at the same time four coaches of the Meghna Express derailed in the Gunabati area, bringing traffic on both up and down lines to a standstill.
As a result, rail connectivity between Chattogram and other parts of the country was effectively severed, leaving trains stranded at multiple stations.
Laksam Junction Station Master Omar Faruk said train movement remained halted for more than an hour and would resume once at least one of the affected lines is cleared.
Nangalkot Station Master Jamal Uddin said the Sonar Bangla Express, operating from Chattogram to Dhaka, broke down near Hasanpur and became stranded on the up line.
Shortly afterwards, four coaches of Meghna Express, en route to Chandpur from Chattogram, derailed while passing through the same stretch on the down line, further worsening the situation.
Railway sources said a rescue train has been dispatched from Chattogram to recover the derailed coaches and the disabled locomotive. Recovery operations will begin once the rescue team reaches the site.
Officials at Laksam Junction said a replacement engine has also been sent from Chattogram for the Sonar Bangla Express, while efforts are underway to remove the derailed coaches and shift parts of the Meghna Express to Laksam.
Train movement on the busy Dhaka-Chattogram corridor will resume after completion of the rescue and clearance operations, they added.
