“The train suddenly shook. Then I heard people screaming. The coach tilted… Everyone just ran to save their lives.”
Aminul Islam’s voice still trembles as he recalls the moment the Nilsagar Express turned into a scene of panic and chaos on Wednesday afternoon – just days before Eid, when thousands are rushing home.
At around 2:30 pm, the Dhaka-bound train derailed in the Bagbari area of Chhatnigram, near Santahar Junction, throwing at least nine coaches off the tracks. Within seconds, a routine journey became a desperate scramble for survival.
Moments of chaos
Passengers said the train began shaking violently with a loud, jarring noise before several coaches lurched off the line and toppled onto nearby land.
Inside the train, fear spread instantly.
“People were crying, shouting, trying to get out any way they could,” said another passenger, describing how families clutched children and rushed toward exits as the coaches leaned dangerously.
Locals lead the first response
Before emergency services arrived, local residents rushed to the scene, pulling passengers from damaged compartments and helping the injured to safety.
Later, teams from the Fire Service and Civil Defence joined the rescue effort, working through twisted metal and shocked crowds.
Officials said at least 47 people were rescued from the wreckage. But the scale of the disaster quickly became clearer as the injured continued to arrive at nearby hospitals.
Hospitals overwhelmed
More than a hundred passengers were injured, according to multiple sources.
Victims were taken to Naogaon General Hospital, Adamdighi Upazila Health Complex and several private clinics. Hospital officials said at least 80 people sought treatment at Naogaon Sadar Hospital alone, with around 20 admitted. Some remain in critical condition.
Many others, suffering injuries and trauma, sought treatment on their own.
Lifeline to the north severed
The derailment has cut off a crucial railway link, halting direct train services to Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurhat.
For thousands of Eid-bound passengers, the disruption has turned anticipation into uncertainty.
“If this happens during Eid, where do we go?” asked Minhaj, a stranded passenger. “We bought tickets, travelled this far, and now we’re stuck.”
A journey interrupted
As rescue efforts continue and railway workers begin the long process of clearing tracks and restoring services, the accident has left behind more than twisted metal – it has shaken the confidence of travellers at one of the busiest times of the year.
For passengers like Aminul, the memory is unlikely to fade anytime soon: a sudden jolt, a chorus of screams, and a journey that never reached its destination.