Locals gather to collect oil after oil-laden train derails in Moulvibazar

Published at 09:08 pm November 7th, 2020

Locals, including women and children, are seen collecting oil after seven tanker wagons carrying oil derailed in Srimangal upazila of Moulvibazar on Saturday Dhaka Tribune

Hundreds of locals, including women and children carrying buckets, jugs and mangers were seen collecting oil as huge amounts of fuel oil had spilled over from the wreckage of the wagons

Hundreds of locals, including women, have been collecting crude oil after an oil carrying train derailed and overturned in Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar on Saturday.

Seven tanker wagons of the Sylhet-bound train -- carrying fuel oil from Chittagong -- derailed and overturned near Satgaon Rail Station at around 11:40am.

As soon as the train derailed, hundreds of locals, including women and children carrying buckets, jugs and mangers were seen collecting oil as huge amounts of fuel oil had spilled over from the wreckage of the wagons.

Speaking to this correspondent, Rebeka Begum, Kulsum Begum and Sumi Begum from Chanmari village, who were collecting oil from the wreckage of the wagons, said oil was being spilled from wagons and was getting mixed with the soil. For this reason, they were collecting the oil.

Anwar Hossain, in charge of Meghna Petroleum Corporation in Sylhet, said: There was a total of 160,000 litres of octane, kerosene and diesel in the wagons. The oil belongs to Meghna Petroleum Corporation.”

Meanwhile, train communication between Sylhet and the rest of the country has remained halted since the morning due to the derailment

Regarding the matter, Dulal Chandra Das, senior executive engineer of Bangladesh Railway’s Sylhet Division, said: “A train engine with seven wagons derailed. Relief trains from Kulaura and Akhaura are currently working to clear the track.”