A brick-loaded motor trolley driver was killed and his helper injured when their vehicle was struck by a train at an unguarded level crossing on the Saidpur-Parbatipur railway line in Saidpur upazila, Nilphamari, on Thursday (June 25) at around 2pm.
The driver, Aminul Islam, 48, son of the late Yusuf Ali of Dighaldangi village, Sonaray area, Nilphamari Sadar upazila, died at the scene. The trolley’s helper, Saju Rahman, 35, a resident of Koya Golhat area, Ward 1, Saidpur municipality, was taken to Saidpur 100-bed hospital with injuries, where he is undergoing treatment.
Saju Rahman said neither he nor the driver heard the train approaching, and the engine gave no whistle or horn. Houses built close alongside the railway line blocked their view of the approaching train. A motorcycle had just crossed the tracks ahead of them, and they followed. They saw the train only when it was too late; Saju Rahman jumped clear and survived, but sustained a serious head injury. The trolley’s front section was completely destroyed and two wheels were flung clear by the impact. The train engine was also damaged and came to a halt some distance away.
Eyewitness Abul Kashem said the failure to sound the whistle and the obstructed sight lines were the key factors in the accident. He said he had crossed the tracks on a motorcycle just moments before and tried to wave a warning to the trolley driver, but was unable to prevent the collision.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report