15 Killed, 100 Injured in Train Collision in Bangladesh
NEW DELHI, Oct 23: At least 15 people have been killed and 100 others injured in Bangladesh after two trains collided on Monday, with officials saying they fear the death count could rise.
The crash in the eastern city of Bhairab saw a freight train smash into a passenger train travelling in the opposite direction, derailing two passenger carriages, officials said.
“We have recovered 15 bodies, many are injured,” Sadiqur Rahman, a government administrator in Bhairab, about 60 kilometres northeast of the capital city Dhaka. “The death toll will rise,” Mr Rahman said, with rescuers reporting they could still see bodies crushed and trapped under overturned coaches. At least 100 people were injured, he added.
The accident, which took place at around 4:00 pm occurred when one train entered the same line as the other, Rahman said. Train accidents are common in Bangladesh and are often caused by poor signalling, negligence, old tracks or other rundown infrastructure.
(Manas Dasgupta)
