Bangladesh train crash: At least 17 killed in Bhairab

Rescue and relief work under way as some passengers remain trapped in wreckage

Derailed carriages after two trains collided in Bhairab, about 80 kilometres north-east of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, on Monday. Reuters

At least 17 people were killed and several injured after a passenger train collided with a goods train in Bangladesh on Monday.

The incident occurred when the freight train hit the Egarosindhur Express, which was en route to the capital Dhaka, near Bhairab railway station in Kishoreganj at 3.30pm, police told The National.

The incident occurred when the freight train on its way to Chittagong arrived at the station to change direction but before the passenger train could clear the line, the freight train rammed into the last two coaches of the Egarosindhur Express.

The accident took place about 80 kilometres north-east of Dhaka.

Emergency workers including police and fire department officials arrived at the scene for rescue and relief work.

“Two coaches of the train have been impacted. We have recovered 17 bodies and several people are trapped but we can’t tell the exact number … our teams have rushed many people to hospital,” Sirajul Islam of the railway police said.

“Efforts are on to rescue everyone."