Pabna, Sept 29 (V7N) – Three carriages of the Panchagarh Express derailed near Bhangaura Railway Station in Pabna early Monday, suspending rail services for more than four hours and stranding hundreds of passengers. No casualties were reported.

The incident occurred at around 4:00 a.m. when the northbound Panchagarh Express, which had departed Dhaka at 11:30 p.m. Sunday, reached the Bhangaura area of Pabna’s Bhangaura upazila. Witnesses said a loud noise was heard before the derailment, prompting panic among passengers, many of whom jumped from the train.

Local police from Bhangaura station rushed to the site immediately to ensure the safety of travelers. Passengers, many of them heading home for the Puja holidays, endured long hours of hardship as train services on the route remained suspended.

Railway authorities began recovery work at about 7:30 a.m., nearly three and a half hours after the derailment. By then, rail traffic had been disrupted for over four hours.

Saiful Islam, a businessman who witnessed the incident, said the derailment caused severe suffering for passengers but confirmed that no injuries occurred. “Many of the passengers were traveling home for the Puja vacation,” he added.

Shafiqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Bhangaura Police Station, confirmed that services were halted and said police had been deployed to protect passengers and maintain order.

Nazim Kayser, Divisional Engineer-2 of the Pakshi Western Railway Zone, said rescue operations were underway. “It is difficult to say exactly when the work will be completed, but efforts are being made to restore normal train operations as quickly as possible,” he said.

The cause of the derailment has not yet been confirmed, and railway officials are investigating the incident.

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