Rail communication between Khulna and the rest of the country resumed on Wednesday morning after being halted for 10 hours.
Eight oil tankers of a freight train derailed in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga around 12:30am on Wednesday and the rail communication was disrupted as result.
Later, it resumed at 11:00am on Wednesday. Station Master of Uthli rail station Mintu Kumar confirmed the matter.
Station Master Mintu Roy said that a train carrying 32 empty tankers was heading to Khulna from Bogura on Tuesday night when the derailment occurred.
“Around 1 am, near the 11-number point of the railway line close to Ansarbaria station, eight tankers derailed,” he said.
A rescue train from Ishurdi in Pabna has been working on the derailed tankers since dawn. The rescue operation is still ongoing, with the authorities striving to restore rail communication.
With operations halted at Ansarbaria station, Chuadanga station Master Mizanur Rahman said, “The recovery of the derailed tankers is in progress, and train operations may resume after the rescue work is complete.”
Shanto Kumar Biswas, the point man at Chuadanga station, confirmed that passenger trains traveling from Dhaka to Khulna and those heading from Khulna to Goalanda are now stuck at Chuadanga station and Mobarakganj station.
He stated, “Midnight onward, rail communication with the entire country has been suspended.” Rescue operations began at dawn, with efforts underway to clear the tracks and resume services.
“A passenger train is currently stuck at Chuadanga station. Further details will be known after the completion of the rescue operation,” he added.
A rescue relief train arrived from Pakshi at 8:00am to begin the recovery operation. After three hours of work, train services were restored. Meanwhile, intercity trains, including the Chitra and Shimanta Express, were stranded at the nearby Ansarbariya railway station, causing significant inconvenience for hundreds of passengers. Many travelers opted for alternative means to reach their destinations, resulting in a disruption of the train schedule.
In response to the incident, a four-member investigation team was formed, led by Md Anwar Hossain, the Railway Divisional Manager of the Pakshi Railway. The team was instructed to submit its report within three working days.
