Dhaka’s rail link with northern, southern dists resumes

Dhaka’s rail communications with the country’s northern and southern districts resumed on Monday, after remaining suspended for 35 hours since Sunday morning.
Railway officials informed that the Dhaka-bound Rangpur Express successfully crossed the railway bridge at Pouli of Kalihati in Tangail at 5:25pm after repairs were conducted on the bridge. 
Rail links collapsed since Sunday morning after the bridge on the River Pouli became vulnerable due to soil subsidence and strong floodwater currents.
Gharinda railway station master Jalal Uddin said that the soil stretching upto 30 feet at the southern entry point under the rail tracks subsided soon after Dhaka-bound intercity train Sunderbans Express from Khulna crossed the rail bridge Sunday morning. 
The soil became loose due to strong flood currents and subsided at the entry point, he said. The rail communications were suspended due to security concerns, the station master added.
The sudden halt in train communications caused immense sufferings for thousands of passengers at different stations.
Different intercity Dhaka-bound trains — Rangpur Express from Rangpur, Nilphamari Express from Nilphamari, Ekata Express from Dinajpur and Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express from Dhaka — were marooned at different stations, waiting to cross the line.
Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express train service was also suspended due to the damage to the bridge.
During a visit to the damaged bridge site, railway minister Mujibul Haque said on Sunday that they would investigate the allegation of sand lifting from the River Pouli, which weakened the southern entry point’s ability to hold the rail bridge.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net