Red flags waved along the tracks, a clear warning of the repair work underway. But in a heartbeat, the routine afternoon turned into panic as the Nilsagar Express, fresh out of Santahar Junction, thundered into the section and derailed near Adamdighi in Bogura on Wednesday.
The train, packed with passengers travelling home for Eid from Dhaka to Chilahati in Nilphamari, had just left Santahar station around 2 pm when nine of its coaches went off the tracks.
Panic spread quickly through the train.
Passengers rushed to get off, some even attempting to jump down in fear.
At least 50 people were injured, many of them reportedly travelling on the roof – a risky but common practice during peak holiday travel.
Local accounts raise troubling questions. Track maintenance was underway at the site, and cautionary signals had been displayed. Still, the accident was not averted.
Santahar Station Master Khadija Khanam told journalists, “The line was being repaired with red flags in place. The accident occurred when the train entered immediately.”
Railway police official Mahfuzur Rahman confirmed that the derailment happened shortly after the train departed the station.
Pakshi Railway Division Superintendent of Police Mehedi Hasan said the injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals in Adamdighi and Naogaon.
Beyond the immediate injuries, the derailment has caused wider disruption.
Rail communication between Dhaka and several northern districts – including Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, and Joypurhat – has been suspended, as the accident site lies on a single-track route.
A rescue train has been dispatched from Ishwardi Junction to clear the derailed coaches and restore services.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has formed a four-member investigation committee, led by divisional mechanical engineer Moinuddin Sarkar, to determine the cause of the accident.
For many passengers, one question remains: with warning flags already in place, how did the train still enter the danger zone?