Bangladesh: 15 killed, over 40 injured after two trains collide

Two passenger trains collided head-on in Brahmabaria district in Bangladesh on November 12 killing over 15 people while several others were wounded. Udayan Express heading towards Chattogram collided with Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita at Mondobhag Railway Station around 3 am. 12 people died on the spot while three others died undergoing treatment at Brahmanbaris General Hospital and Cumilla Sadar Hospital. The rescue operation is underway, however, many people could be trapped under the coaches. 

Read - Rohingyas 'threat' To National And Regional Security, Says Bangladesh PM Hasina

Read - IMD: Odisha, West Bengal To Receive Heavy Rainfall Due To "Bulbul"

The death toll could rise

The Brahmanbaria district administrator, Hayat Ud Dowlah Khan told an international news agency that the death toll could further increase in the accident which left train coaches mangled. The search operations are still ongoing as nearly 40 people were injured and had to be admitted to the hospitals while some of them were severely injured. The Railway accidents occur frequently in Bangladesh due to unsupervised crossings and poor conditions of tracks. 

Read - India Vs Bangladesh T20: India's Top 3 T20I Series Comeback Wins

Read - Cyclone Bulbul: B'desh Authorities Issue The Most Severe Storm Alert

'Big bang'

One of the passengers told an international news agency that suddenly there was a 'big bang'. The police officials remained unclear about the possibility of two trains on the same track and suggested that one of the trains might have broken the signal. The train accident came in a time when cyclone Bulbul also entered Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi authorities have evacuated close to 100,000 people from low-lying coastal villages and islands as Cyclone Bulbul crossed the coast of West Bengal with the maximum speed being reported as that of 110-120 km per hour gusting up to 120 kmph into Bangladesh. The Bangladesh television footage showed fire service rescuers who pulled the bodies from the twisted train coaches and used body bags to further send them to the hospital from the tragedy area. 

Read - Cyclone Bulbul: Weakens Into A Depression Over Southeast Bangladesh

Read - As Cyclone BulBul Hits WB, Bangladesh Evacuates 100,000 People

(With inputs from agencies)