JHENIDAH: At least 11 people were killed and 70 more injured when a train crashed into a bus carrying bridal party people in Baro Bazaar area of the district early Friday.

Of the deceased, seven were men, two women and one was child and their identities could not be known immediately.

The train, Simanta Express, was on its way to Sayedpur from Khulna.

Abdul Hannan, an attendant of the train, told banglanews, “The train crossed Baro Bazar Rail Station at 3:30am on the day; we heard a huge noise and realizes the accident.”

“The train crushed into the bus at Baro bazaar crossing and had been pushing the bus nearly one and half kilometer on the rail track, and then the train managed to stop,” he added.

Injured bus passengers said they were on way home by the bus after attending a marriage ceremony in Sanko village of Kaliganj upazila of the district. About 90 people were in the bus during the mishap.

All the deceased and the inured were the passenger of the bus. 

Of the injured, at least 30 people remained undergoing treatment at Jessore Medical College Hospital. Of them, 10 sustained serious injuries and 5 of them are in critical condition, said Abdullah Al Mamum, a doctor of the hospital’s emergency unit.

Rest of the inured was admitted at different hospitals at Jessore and Jhenidah.

Baro Bazaar police camp In-Charge Sub-Inspector Akimur Rahman said, “They have recovered bodies of 10 people so far.”

Banglanews Jhenidah Correspondent adds: another succumbed to his injuries at Kaliganj Health Complex in the morning.

Following the accident, highway police and the locals began rescue operation there. Later fire service personnel joined in. 

Till filling this report at 10:00am, the bus and the train remained attached with each other on the rail tracks there.

Rail communications to Khulna with the others parts of the country resumed after more than nine hours.

Meanwhile, a rescue train from Khulna is way to the spot. The rail track will be cleared of on arrival of the rescue train.

A five-member team led by Railway Western Division manager has begun moving towards to visit the spot.

Railway Rajshahi Zone GM Abdul Awal confirmed the mater to banglanews. 

BDST: 0649 HRS, AUG 01, 2014/ updated 1231hrs