Rail links to Khulna restored after 11 hours

Rail links with Khulna, snapped as five bogies of an oil-laden train KN-17 derailed in Chuadanga’s Jibonanagar upazila, have been restored after 11 hours.

The freight train, carrying fuel oil from Khulna to Natore, derailed in Uthli area of the upazila around 1am on Monday.

Later, a relief train arrived from Pakshi, Ishwardi upazila, at around 8.00 am and salved the oil tanker around 12pm, confirmed Uthli Railway Station Master Mohammad Ali.

Although no serious injuries were reported following the incident, rail communication between Khulna and other parts of the country remained suspended resulting in immense suffering for passengers who were waiting for hours at different stations of the division.

Khulna Railway Station Master Manik Chandra Sarkar said trains were released from Khulna station around 10am after receiving information that the line might be cleared by 11:30am.

Pakshi Divisional Railway Transport Officer Anwar Hossain said he will lead a five-member committee to investigate the derailment.