Rail communication between Dhaka and northern Bangladesh resumed nearly four and a half hours after a bogie of the Dhaka-bound Kurigram Express derailed at Santahar Railway Station in Bogra on Monday.
The incident occurred at around 6:30pm when the train, travelling from Kurigram to Dhaka, reached the rail gate area of Santahar Junction Station. A freight bogie at the rear of the train derailed, disrupting rail communication between Dhaka and northern Bangladesh.
Santahar Station Master Khadija Khanam and Santahar Railway Police Station OC Dulal Uddin confirmed the incident.
No passengers were injured in the derailment.
A railway rescue team began work immediately after the incident. At around 10pm, the derailed bogie was separated from the train, allowing the remaining coaches to continue towards Dhaka.
A relief train reached the site at around 10:30pm. After about an hour of work, the derailed bogie was removed from the tracks and the damaged railway line was repaired.
Train movement on the northern route resumed at around 11:30pm after railway officials declared the line safe.
The derailment caused significant disruption for passengers and local residents.
Abdul Aziz, a passenger on the Kurigram Express, said the train was already running five to six hours late before the derailment.
“Even then, we had to wait for at least another four and a half hours after the derailment. All the passengers suffered because of this,” he said.
Local resident Parvez Pramanik said the derailment near the rail gate halted movement between the two sides of the area for a long time, causing severe traffic congestion.
Station Master Khadija Khanam said the freight bogie at the rear of the train had derailed. The damaged bogie was detached and kept separate while the remaining train was moved to platform No 3 before departing for Dhaka.
She said an investigation committee would be formed to determine the cause of the derailment.