Akkelpur (Joypurhat) Correspondent:

A power car of the Kurigram Express derailed in Akkelpur, Joypurhat. The accident occurred at around 3:45 am today, Monday, in the Bhadrakali area south of Akkelpur Railway Station. After being closed for five and a half hours, train traffic returned to normal at around 9:30 am.

After the derailment, the train reached Joypurhat Station with 5 coaches, leaving behind a few coaches. A rescue train from Parbatipur reached the spot at around 8 am and started work. The derailed coach was then brought to Akkelpur Station.

Akkelpur Railway Station Master Hasibul Islam said that the derailed coach and other coaches of the Kurigram Express train have been brought to Akkelpur Station. These coaches will be connected to the other coaches of the train at Joypurhat Station. Now the line is clear. The Border Express train left Santahar Junction at 9:30 am. Train traffic has returned to normal.

According to Akkelpur railway station and eyewitness sources, the derailed power car was in the middle of the engine. The bogie suddenly derailed before the Holhalia railway bridge. At that time, panic spread when smoke and a burning smell came out. The train was stopped in the Bhadrakali area, one and a half kilometers away from the incident site. Later, the derailed bogie was separated and the train moved to the next station. Several sleepers on the railway line were damaged.

When we went to the spot in the morning, we saw that the railway workers were trying to put the derailed bogie on the line. The rescue train arrived and separated the bogie. Local people and passengers crowded the spot.

Kamrul Hasan Mithu, a passenger going from Natore to Kurigram, said, "I was three bogies behind the derailed bogie. I smelled smoke and burning smell after crossing Tilakpur. Later, the train stopped in the Bhadrakali area. Then I saw that the power car had derailed."

Another passenger Saiful said, "The train derailed after crossing the Holhalia bridge. We narrowly escaped a major accident. About one and a half kilometers of sleepers were damaged. We are in trouble.