At least 12 individuals lost their lives and 20 others sustained injuries in a devastating incident early Sunday at the Padua Bazar level crossing in Comilla. The collision occurred between a mail train and a bus on the Dhaka–Chittagong route, marking one of the deadliest rail-road accidents in recent memory.
The bus, attempting to cross the railway at the level crossing, was struck by the Chittagong-bound train around 3:00 a.m., resulting in a severe impact that led to the bus getting entangled with the train’s engine. The bus was dragged for nearly a kilometer before the train could come to a stop, leaving the vehicle severely damaged and passengers trapped inside.
Authorities on-site confirmed that the victims included seven men, three women, and two children. Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam of the EPZ outpost, supported by local police in Comilla Sadar South Police Station, provided initial casualty figures. Rescue operations, involving army, police, fire service, and Red Crescent members, were promptly initiated to aid in the recovery process.
Rescue teams, along with local residents, worked diligently to extricate the injured individuals, who were swiftly transported to Comilla Medical College Hospital for medical attention. While three bodies were retrieved at the crash site, nine more succumbed to their injuries later at the hospital, as per officials.
The tragic incident led to a temporary suspension of train services on the vital Dhaka–Chittagong rail route for nearly three hours. The disruption caused inconvenience and delays for passengers and freight services reliant on this busy rail corridor in Bangladesh.
This collision has once again highlighted concerns over rail and road safety in Bangladesh, emphasizing the need for enhanced measures to prevent vehicle-train accidents at level crossings. Authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the collision to ascertain accountability and implement preventive strategies to avert such catastrophic events in the future.
