Rail services resume in Sylhet after 4-hour derailment halt

Rail communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country resumed on Tuesday (7 October) after a four-hour suspension caused by a train derailment. The Kalni Express, which had been stuck at Sylhet station, departed for Dhaka at 9:40 am.

However, the Upaban Express, stranded at Maijgaon station in Fenchuganj, has not yet reached Sylhet, confirmed Sylhet Railway Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Quddus.

Eyewitnesses and railway officials reported that except for four bogies—including the engine—of the Udayan Express, which derailed in the Moglabazar area of Dakshin Surma Upazila, the rest of the train was cleared from the tracks. This allowed the Kalni Express to resume its journey to Dhaka. Meanwhile, a recovery train was dispatched from Akhaura station in Brahmanbaria to Sylhet to retrieve the derailed bogies, and recovery work will begin once it arrives.

Several people, including the train driver, were injured when the four bogies and engine derailed. Two of the injured have been admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.

The injured are Junaid, 20, son of Zakir Alam from Amtoli Para, Nolzup Thana, Rangamati, and Mohammad Fahad, 32, son of Abdur Rahman from Chaubano village, Maizdi Thana, Noakhali. Debashish, in-charge of the police box at the hospital, said both patients’ conditions are stable. They sustained minor injuries while jumping from the train after the accident.

Abdul Quddus added that the Kalni Express departed four hours after the Udayan Express derailment. However, it will take some time for the Upaban Express, still stranded in Fenchuganj, to reach Sylhet.