Seven passengers of a battery-operated autorickshaw were killed and one other person was injured after the three-wheeler was hit by a Dhaka-bound train in Cumilla’s Burichong Upazila this morning (26 November).
The accident occurred at around 10am at an unauthorised railway crossing in the upazila’s Kalikapur area, confirmed Burichong Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azizul Haque.
The inter-city Chattola Express hit the autorickshaw full of passengers as the driver of the three-wheeler tried to cross the illegal level crossing in the Kalikapur area in a hurry at the same time the train was passing the spot, he said.
Four of the passengers were killed on the spot and four more died while receiving treatment.
The deceased have been identified as Rafiq Mia, Lutfa Begum, Sanu Mia, Safarjan Begum, Saju Mia, and Al Amin, Hosne Ara.
The collision left the three-wheeler completely crushed and in pieces, while the victims’ bodies were severely mutilated, OC Azizul said.
The rural railway crossing had no gateman to put up the signal for the vehicles coming from either side.
Railway police have been informed and will handle the legal proceedings once they arrive, said Azizul.
