The ecosystem of Karnaphuli River is facing a grave threat after a rail bridge broke down over nearby Boalkhali canal yesterday, causing oil-filled train wagons to derail and spill thousands of litres of furnace oil.
Yesterday’s accident took place at a dilapidated bridge which had been identified as a “death point” by the Bangladesh Railway (East Zone) eight years back. To prevent accidents, trains reportedly had to slow down to cross the bridge, which links Dohajaree of Chandanaish upazila and the port city.
A locomotive and three oil wagons carrying about 90,000 litres of furnace oil derailed when the Number 24 bridge – locally known as Shakerpool – collapsed at around 2pm, said BR (East) Divisional Railway Manager Mofizur Rahaman.
Two train drivers – Loco Master Shaidullah and Assistant Loco Master Jafor – were seriously injured and had to be taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
“Two oil wagons capsized in the canal water while another partially sank, and another wagon just derailed [on land].” The furnace oil from the first three wagons are now spilling into the water, he added.
The oil wagons started from Chittagong Port with around 240,000 litres of furnace oil, and were headed to Dohajaree for the 100MW Dohajaree Peaking Power Plant.
As of filing this report at 10pm, train movement through Dohajaree route was suspended, while a relief train was working to fix the problem, said BR (East) Additional Chief Operating Superintendent Md Rokunuzzaman.
Two BR (East) officials – Assistant Executive Engineer Abdul Halim and Senior Sub-Assistant Engineer Akbar Ahmed Ferdous – were suspended for their negligence in performing their duties, he added.
Two three-member probe bodies have been formed to look into the incident, and were told to submit reports within three working days.
This is the second such incident in Chittagong’s Boalkhali upazila, where another oil-carrying wagon train derailed on July 31, 2013, from the Kalurghat bridge.
A similar derailing also took place near Fouzdarhat Railway Station in Chittagong’s Sitakunda upazila on July 7, 2014, when five wagons carrying furnace oil and a locomotive derailed. This resulted in a large amount of furnace oil contaminating the waters of Bay of Bengal.
Accident at death point
BR sources and locals said the broken bridge remained in a dilapidated condition for the last eight years. Trains had to maintain caution while crossing the bridge, they added.
Several BR officials, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that the repair work of the bridge was halted due to legislative complexities over tender.
Asked about this, BR (East) DRM Mofizur said he could not comment on the issue as he was appointed in his post only three months ago, adding that he would have to check documents to clarify on this.
Commenting on the extent of the damage, Railway Nirapatta Bahini’s Chittagong Commandant Abdur Razzak said he had not witnessed such a massive rail accident in his 34 years in the job.
No implementation of DoE suggestions
After the Kalurghat Bridge incident in 2013, the Department of Environment (DoE) issued a letter to the BR asking about the incident. The DoE also made recommendations on introducing bottom-line mouth for oil wagons instead of up-line mouths, so that oil would not be spilled even if the wagon turned turtle.
Jafor Alam, the then director for DoE’s Chittagong office, said they also suggested repair works on the Chittagong-Dohajaree rail route to prevent such incident.
But the BR sources said the recommendations stayed locked in files and no steps were taken for their implementation.
The Dhaka Tribune also found that the rail route was filled with risky bridges where drivers had to slow down locomotive speeds to prevent accidents.
Livelihoods of farmers, fishermen at risk
Visiting the area, the Dhaka Tribune found that the spilled furnace oil had spread into farmland and water bodies that were several kilometres away from the scene of the accident.
The Boalkhali Canal is linked to the Karnaphuli waters, which is likely to become contaminated by the time tide arrives.
Locals said their crops and fishes were being affected because of the oil spill.
Johir, a farmer in the area, said he fears losing around Tk3 lakh worth of cucumber harvest after oil had seeped into his one acre of arable land.
Another farmer, Ranjit, recalled how they had to suffer from a similar accident two years back, and blamed the authorities concerned for their lack of initiative to prevent repetitions of such accidents.
Local fishermen told the Dhaka Tribune they feared that many sea fish found in the canal would be harmed by the contamination.
