The Sundarban Express, an intercity passenger train, narrowly averted a major railway disaster after colliding with a truck at a railway crossing in Abhaynagar, near the Nawapara Bhairab Bridge, on Sunday night.
The incident occurred around 10:30 PM, with no reported casualties or significant damage.
According to witnesses, a fertilizer-laden truck (Kushtia-T-11-2460) was transporting government BADC fertilizers from Boro Bari Ghat in Jashore to Kushtia. While crossing the railway tracks near Bhairab Bridge, the truck’s engine failed, leaving it stranded on the tracks.
Despite repeated attempts, the vehicle could not be restarted.
Shortly thereafter, the Dhaka-bound Sundarban Express from Khulna approached the crossing at high speed.
Upon realizing the imminent danger, the truck driver and his assistant quickly abandoned the vehicle. Moments later, the train collided directly with the truck, throwing it off the tracks into a nearby ditch, leaving it severely damaged. The train’s engine also sustained minor damage;. However, since the train did not derail, a larger catastrophe was averted.
The collision produced a loud explosion-like sound, causing panic among locals and passengers. Many residents rushed to the spot, while railway police, local law enforcement, and relevant authorities quickly arrived to brought the order.
Confirming the incident, Nawapara Railway Station Master Raju Ahmed assured that rail services remained unaffected despite the collision.
Meanwhile, Aminul Islam Milton, Assistant Superintendent of Kushtia GRP Police, stated that the truck was in such a critical condition that moving it off the tracks was nearly impossible. However, post-collision inspections of the train revealed no significant structural damage, ensuring continued railway operations.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the truck’s mechanical failure and reviewing safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.