Staff Reporter :
The Panchagarh Express derailed shortly after departing from Dhaka’s Kamalapur Railway Station late Thursday night, leading to significant disruptions of services and sufferings of the passengers.
Railway officials reported that no injuries occurred during the incident, but the impact on passengers was profound.
The Panchagarh Express, which departed around 12:30am on Friday, was the last train to leave Dhaka for the night.
According to Arif Mohiuddin, the Dhaka divisional railway manager, five carriages of the train derailed under the Khilgaon Flyover just minutes after leaving the station. The train had been moving slowly at the time, which officials credited for preventing any injuries among the passengers.
Recovery efforts were extensive, lasting approximately seven hours, and the train was finally back on the tracks by 7:30am.
However, the incident caused a ripple effect, delaying morning services and forcing many travelers to alter their plans.
Passengers expressed their frustration on social media, with reports of cancellations and delays flooding various railway groups on Facebook.
While Arif Mohiuddin assured that no trains had been cancelled, he did acknowledge that delays were inevitable.
The first trains scheduled for 6am eventually departed at 8am, leaving many commuters in limbo.
The derailment of the Panchagarh Express caused immense suffering for hundreds of passengers at other stations since several trains got stuck there.
In the capital, trains were leaving Kamalapur station running behind their schedules.
Among those affected was passenger Md Ataullah, who had boarded the Panchagarh Express with two friends. They were en route to an event in Panchagarh’s Tentulia.
After waiting in uncertainty until dawn, they decided to return home, disappointed and frustrated.
“We had no assurance that we could continue our trip,” Ataullah shared.
“The experience was disheartening. It’s not just about the trip; it’s the time lost and the inconvenience caused,” he added.
Railway authorities said that a committee has been formed to look into the incident.
The derailment comes at a time when many are relying on public transportation to navigate their daily lives, especially during the busy morning hours.
Travelers dependent on the railway system found themselves scrambling to find alternate arrangements as services were delayed.
Many expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of clear communication from railway officials.
The incident also highlighted the vulnerabilities in the railway system, which has seen a history of accidents due to aging infrastructure and inadequate safety measures.
Earlier on Thursday morning, a Narayanganj-bound commuter train derailed in Dhaka’s Gopibagh area.
