Mail train hit sand-laden truck in Feni, death toll rises to 6

The death toll from a collision between a sand-laden truck and a mail train on Friday (5 April) morning has risen from two to six with reports of four more casualties emerging on the day. 

"Initially, it was thought that two persons were killed on the spot as a sand-laden truck was hit by a mail train when it was passing through a railway level crossing at Muhuriganj of Chhagalnaiya upazila this morning," Zakir Hossain, Superintendent of Feni Police, told The Business Standard.

"The police recovered their bodies upon arriving at the spot. Later, another injured died while being under treatment at the Chattogram Medical College and Hospital. We have received reports that three others have also died. The relatives of another three victims' took their bodies home before our arrival," he said

The deceased has been identified as driver of the truck Md Mizan, 32, son of Abul Hawlader of Kauarantha area at Wazirpur in Barishal; Abul Khayer Mia, 40, son of Amin Hossain of Monohorpur village at Laksham upazila in Cumilla; Abul's son Ashik, 14; Dil Mohammad, 23, son of Nurul Haque of Shaktola village at Chauddagram upazila in Cumilla; Mohammad Rifat, 17, son of Ruhul Amin of Shaktola village;  and Md Sazzad, 18, on of Mohammad Yasin of Shaktola village

"The accident took place following a strike by a Chattogram-bound mail train in the Balumahal area, adjacent to Muhuriganj Bridge at 8.30am on Friday," said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chhagalnaiya Police Station M Hasan Imam.

As a result, the truck overturned and fell on the line. Two people died on the spot, he added.

Those hailing from Cumilla were friends and were travelling to Chattogram for Eid shopping, Chauddagram's  Cheora Union Parishad Chairman Abu Taher told The Business Standard.

"11 of them were travelling to Chattogram. After the accident, those who survived brought the dead back home," he said.