Derailment snaps rail link with north, south dists

Railway communication of the north-southern districts with rest of the country remained snapped since around 11:00am on Sunday following derailment of a goods train’s locomotive and six wagons in Eco Park area in Sirajganj.
Bangladesh Railway officials told New Age at 8:00pm that it would take more time to recover the wagons and locomotive on the west side of Bangabandhu bridge. 
The derailment took place due to wrong signal given by a station employee who was sacked following the accident.

Hundreds of passengers waiting at different rail stations suffered due to the derailment.
According to the Dhaka-bound rice-laden train’s locomaster Khan Mokhlesur Rahman and guard Fateh Ali, the train had started from Dinajpur.
The meter gauge train’s locomotive and six wagons derailed about 11:00am as it had entered the broad gauge line just after crossing Saidabad station due to wrong signal. 
A relief train from Ishwardi started to recover the derailed wagons after 5:00pm.
Divisional transport officer (Paksey) Shawkat Jamil told New Age that till 8:00pm they had recovered three wagons and it would take at least two more hours to recover the rest.
After the derailment, trains including six intercity trains — Sirajganj, Chitra, Padma, Silk City, Lalmoni and Ekota expresses — remained stranded at different stations with several thousand passengers.
BR general manager (west) Khairul Alam said Saidabad station’s assistant station master Abdul Gafur was sacked. 
It has been proved in primary investigation that the derailment had taken place due to his negligence in duties and giving wrong signal, he added.
He also said it could take till Sunday midnight to clear the line fully. 
A committee has been formed to probe the accident.

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