Bent rail tracks: ‘Banalata Express’ avoids accident

Passengers on the ‘Banalata Express’ on the Dhaka-Mymensingh rail route avoided a big disaster as the railway authorities displayed a red flag in time after part of a track was found bent down at Dhirasram Choto Deura in Gazipur district.

Local people said they noticed that a10-feet long rail track on Dhaka-Mymensingh route was bent down around 2:15 pm.

At one stage, they informed the matter to the local Railway officials.

In the meantime, a Rajshahi-bound ‘Banalata Express’ train was heading towards Joydebpur via Tongi.

When the train reached Dhirasram Choto Deura, the railway authorities displayed a red flag, forcing the train locomotive master to stop it 100 meters away from the spot.

Twelve hundred passengers on the train escaped the accident following the prompt response of the railway authorities.

Driver of ‘Banalata Express’ train Md Mokhlesur Rahman said he managed to stop the train after noticing the red flag in time.

He also suspected that the rail tracks might have bent down due to the removal of the nut-bolt of the rail tracks.

However, the actual reason behind the incident would be known after investigation.

Station Master of Joydebpur Railway Junction, Hanif Ali, said the authorities concerned suspended one-way rail movement after the incident. However, the other line is operational.