Passengers, mostly holidaymakers heading for their hometowns ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, suffered due to a train schedule disruption caused by rail derailment in Mirsarai upazila yesterday.
Divisional Commercial Officer of Bangladesh Railway (east zone) Mizanur Rahman said four bogies and a power car of Mahanagar Pravati Express derailed at Chinki Astana Railway Station around 8:45am.
The derailment did not cause rail transport disruption but trains moved slowly as only a single track was available, he said, adding that a rescue train from Chittagong arrived on the spot.
Divisional Traffic Officer of the east zone Firoz Iftekhar said a four-member probe body headed by him was formed and it was asked to submit report as early as possible.
“We cannot tell why the train derailed while we are investigating the matter,” he said.
The incident led to a one- to two-hour schedule disruption for all trains leaving Chittagong Railway Station. Passengers soon crowded the platforms after failing to board their respective trains.
Nasima Akhter, who was to board Mahanagar Godhuli at 3:30pm, said she was waiting at the station for more than two hours due to the schedule disruption.
Chittagong Railway Station Manager Abul Kalam Azad said all the trains left the station but they moved slowly, leading to the schedule disruption.
Iftekhar said rescue operations were supposed to end late at night while the schedules would be disrupted till midnight.
