At least three people, including a two-year-old girl, were killed and several others injured after a tourist express train ploughed into several CNG-powered auto-rickshaws and motorcycles on the Kalurghat Bridge in Chattogram on Thursday night.

The incident occurred around 10:10 pm at the eastern end of the bridge when the train struck several vehicles that had not cleared the railway tracks in time. 

Among the deceased were a young child identified as Ayesha and an autorickshaw driver named Tushar, authorities confirmed. The identity of the third victim is yet to be disclosed.

According to eyewitnesses, although a signal was given for the train to stop, multiple vehicles remained stuck on the bridge. 

“There was no time to react. The train arrived at high speed and rammed into the vehicles, completely crushing them,” said a local resident who assisted in the rescue operation.

Station Master Md Nezam Uddin of Janalihat Station said the vehicles were unable to leave the bridge as one of them had broken down, causing a traffic jam. 

"We issued a red signal, and the guard was also signalling with a red flag, but the train driver did not stop,” he told reporters.

According to railway protocol, a train must wait at the eastern end of the bridge until receiving clearance from the lineman. “The driver violated procedure and proceeded onto the bridge without a proper signal,” Nezam Uddin added.

Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Aftab Uddin confirmed the deaths and said that all the injured were rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and whether the train driver’s actions were in breach of safety regulations.

SMS/