Train services on the Dhaka-bound line of the Dhaka-Chittagong route resumed at 12:50pm on Thursday, more than 24 hours after the Karnaphuli Commuter Express derailed in Comilla's Laksam.
The Bijoy Express, travelling from Chittagong to Mymensingh, was the first train to cross the accident site after the line reopened.
Omar Faruk Bhuiyan, station master of Laksam Railway Junction, said train services were now operating normally on both lines.
The damaged track was repaired by 7am on Thursday, but services remained suspended on the Dhaka-bound line because a derailed coach was found. During the suspension, trains in both directions used the other line, causing some disruption. The Chattala Express, bound for Dhaka, and the Paharika Express, bound for Sylhet, passed through Laksam at 10:23am and 10:48am, respectively, on Thursday.
The accident occurred around 12:30pm on Wednesday in the outer section of Naoti station, near Azgara Bazar in Laksam, when five coaches of the Karnaphuli Commuter Express and three wheels of its engine derailed. At least seven passengers were injured.
A rescue train from Chittagong reached the site on Wednesday evening. Recovery work was completed around 5am on Thursday, followed by track repairs.
Meanwhile, railway authorities suspended sub-assistant engineer Sarwar Alam over allegations that he failed to inform the control room about repair work underway at the accident site. He was responsible for the Feni region under the Eastern Railway’s engineering department.
A four-member committee has been formed to investigate the accident, Chittagong Divisional Railway Manager Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan said on Wednesday night.
