Photo: Collected
Rail communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country has resumed after nine hours. The communication was snapped due to the derailment of an oil-laden train at Dakshin Surma area in Sylhet around 10:30pm yesterday (15 February). After a rescue operation, rail communication restarted after 8:30am today (16 February).
According to railway sources, the oil-laden wagon was coming from Chattogram when it was derailed at Mogulbazar Rail Gate in Sylhet's Dakshin Surma area on Saturday night, which snapped rail communication on the Chattogram-Sylhet route.
No train left Sylhet station or arrived there after the communication breakdown. This caused immense pain for travelers, who had to wait for long hours at the railway stations to travel to their destinations, specially Dhaka and Chattogram, railway sources added.
According to Sylhet Railway Station officials, the Upaban Express did not leave the station although it was meant to depart at night, and many passengers of the train had to spend night at the railway station.
Contacted, Manager of Sylhet Railway Station Nurul Islam said, "The Upaban Express could not reach Sylhet from Dhaka due to the derailment of a wagon. The trip was cancelled, and passengers are getting their money back. However, the Kalni Express train that had departed from Dhaka has reached Sylhet station in the morning."
Meanwhile, the Railway official warned of a change in schedules throughout the day even if rail communication remains normal.The damaged rail tracks are currently being repaired. The rescue operation was conducted by relief trains, railway sources said.
In the meantime, Nurul told journalists that a probe committee will be formed to find out the reasons behind the accident.
"We have incurred huge damage to the derailment of one of the 14 oil-laden wagons. Necessary steps will be taken to prevent this type of incidents in the future after the publication of the probe report dealing with the reasons behind the accident," Nurul said.
Messenger/JRTarek
