50 injured as engine hits stationary train in Lalmonirhat

At least 50 passengers on a stationary train were injured when a locomotive engine hit the train while the engine was being replaced at a Lalmonirhat rail station on Saturday afternoon.

Two of the injured passengers were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital in critical condition, reports UNB. 

Witnesses said Dinajpur’s Parbatipur-bound commuter train carrying passengers from Lalmonirhat’s Burimari made a stopover at Lalmonirhat rail station for changing the engine on Saturday afternoon.

Locomotive driver Gour Govinda took the previous engine to the locomotive shed and came back with another engine from there to attach to the train, they said.   

The incident happened when the new engine hit the stationary train while it was being attached, leaving at least 50 passengers injured, witnesses said, adding that the injured were taken to Lalmonirhat Railway Hospital and two of them were sent to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

After receiving first aid, the injured passengers went to Parbatipur by train later.

Confirming the matter, Lalmonirhat Rail Station Master Nurunnabi Islam said a written complaint was lodged against the locomotive driver with the department, and actions will be taken against him upon his return from Dinajpur.

Lalmonirhat’s Railway Divisional Manager Abdus Salam couldn’t be reached over mobile phone despite repeated attempts.