A devastating accident of two trains in the eastern city of Bhairab in Bangladesh has claimed lives of at least 17 people and rendered over 100 others injures.
A freight train collided head-on with a passenger train on Monday at approximately 4 pm local time (1000 GMT).
The death toll was confirmed by the authorities to the media which was told that 17 bodies had been recovered so far.
The death toll is feared to rise as rescuers continue their efforts.
Despite the ongoing rescue operations, bodies are still trapped under the overturned coaches, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Local residents and volunteers swiftly rushed to the scene, joining forces with official rescue teams to assist in the search and recovery efforts.
Emotional scenes unfolded as hundreds of people, many in tears, scoured the accident site for their missing relatives.
Emergency services, including fire brigades, police personnel, and the elite Rapid Action Battalion security force, are tirelessly working at the crash site. A rescue train equipped with cranes has been dispatched to aid in lifting the overturned coaches, providing a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy.
Initial investigations of the Railways Authorities revealed that the freight train had overshot its signal, leading to the catastrophic collision.
This heartbreaking incident has prompted authorities to launch two separate investigations to determine the exact cause and prevent future occurrences.
The collision has once again highlighted the alarming issue of train safety in Bangladesh. Train accidents in the country are frequently attributed to factors such as poor signaling systems, negligence, aging tracks, and overall rundown infrastructure.
