12 killed as train crashes into bus in Cumilla

At least 12 people were killed and around 20 others injured after a mail train crashed into a bus that had driven onto a level crossing in Cumilla early Sunday (March 22).

The accident occurred around 3:00 am in the Paduarbazar Bishwaroad area of the upazila, along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway.

The injured were admitted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital and several other hospitals in the district.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mainamati Highway Police, Md Abdul Momin, confirmed the incident.

Among the deceased, seven were men, two were women, and three were children. All were passengers of the bus. The identities of the victims could not be immediately confirmed.

The OC said the accident occurred between a passenger bus travelling from Chapainawabganj to Noakhali and a mail train heading from Chattogram to Dhaka. Upon receiving the information, personnel from the fire service, railway, and highway police rushed to the scene, recovered the bodies, and sent them to the medical college hospital.

Railway police said it is primarily believed that the accident occurred after the passenger bus drove onto the level crossing.

Md Borhan Uddin, a nurse on duty at the hospital’s emergency department, said that the bodies of 12 people were lying on the hospital floor. Of them, seven were men, two were women, and three were children. Four people are currently admitted, while around 15 others left after receiving treatment.

Omar Faruk, an injured passenger admitted to the hospital, said he had been asleep when he suddenly felt a severe jolt. He later saw that the bus had been mangled inside and could not recall what happened afterward.