KALIHATI, Mar 28 (V7N) – A pall of gloom has descended over the village of Nijpara (Ambagan) following a horrific railway accident that claimed the lives of five people—including three members of a single family—on Friday night. The victims, most of whom were garment workers returning home for the weekend, were struck by the Sirajganj Express in the Dhalatengor area of Kalihati upazila.

The Incident: A Fatal Chain of Events

The accident, which occurred at approximately 8:00 pm on March 27, was triggered by the ongoing fuel crisis affecting the country’s transportation sector.

  • The Stranded Bus: A Dhaka-bound passenger bus suddenly ran out of fuel while traversing the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway.

  • The Fatal Wait: To escape the heat and cramped conditions of the stationary bus, several passengers disembarked and sat on the adjacent railway tracks to talk and wait for a fuel delivery.

  • The Collision: Witnesses report that the Sirajganj Express approached at high speed. Due to the proximity of the highway noise and the darkness, the passengers failed to realize the train was upon them until it was too late. All five were killed instantly.

The Victims: A Community in Mourning

Md. Shahadat Hossain, a member of the Dhaperhat Union Parishad, confirmed the identities of the deceased, noting that they all belonged to hardworking, low-income families:

  1. Sultan Mahmud (28): Son of Azizar Rahman.

  2. Rifa Resa (24): Sultan’s cousin and a garment worker.

  3. Nargis Akhter (42): Wife of Hamiduzzaman (Hambu).

  4. Nirab (12): Nargis’s young son.

  5. Dola Begum (45): A neighbor and relative of the family.

The loss of three members from one household (Nargis, Nirab, and their relative Dola) has left the Nijpara village devastated. Relatives and neighbors gathered at the victims' homes today, where the air was filled with the sound of mourning.

Official Response and Investigation

Railway police from the Gharinda Railway Station and local administration officials arrived at the scene shortly after the incident to recover the bodies.

  • Police Statement: Authorities have warned passengers against sitting or walking on railway tracks, especially during night hours, citing a rise in such accidents near highway-adjacent tracks.

  • Fuel Crisis Link: This tragedy is being cited by local leaders as a grim consequence of the current fuel shortage, which has led to numerous vehicles being stranded on highways over the last 48 hours.

The bodies were handed over to the families today following the completion of legal formalities. Local representatives have called on the government to provide financial assistance to the bereaved families, as most were the primary breadwinners for their households.

END/SMA/AJ