Dhaka, Mar 23: At least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured early Sunday when a mail train collided with a bus at the Padua Bazar level crossing in Comilla, marking one of the deadliest rail-road accidents in recent times, according to The Dhaka Tribune.
The Chittagong-bound train struck the Mamun Special bus at around 3:00 a.m. on the busy Dhaka–Chittagong route. The impact was so severe that the bus became entangled with the train’s engine and was dragged nearly a kilometre before the train could stop, leaving the vehicle mangled and passengers trapped inside. Among the deceased were seven men, three women, and two children.
Local authorities, led by Sub‑Inspector Saiful Islam of the EPZ outpost under Comilla Sadar South Police Station, confirmed the casualty figures.
Rescue teams, including army personnel, police, fire service, and Red Crescent volunteers, worked alongside local residents to free survivors and transport the injured to Comilla Medical College Hospital. Three bodies were recovered at the crash site, while nine victims later succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
The accident temporarily halted train services along the vital Dhaka–Chittagong corridor for nearly three hours, causing significant delays for passengers and freight. Bangladesh has a history of rail-road collisions, raising concerns over the safety of level crossings and the need for improved preventive measures.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash and assessing ways to enhance security at railway intersections to prevent similar tragedies in the future.