BENGURA (BOALKHALI), CHITTAGONG: Railway secretary Firoz Salauddin and director general (DG) Amzad Hossain visited the place three days after the accident.

However, three oil-carrying wagons plunged into Boalkhali canal as the bridge over the canal collapsed at Bengura of Boalkhali upazila of Chittagong district on Friday.

The visiting secretary landed at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong at 9:30am and reached the place at 10:30am.

Railway eastern zone director general Mozammel Haque and other higher officials also accompanied the secretary.

However, a train carrying furnace oil derailed and three of its wagons plunged into Boalkhali canal at Bengura, spilling oil into the canal and surrounding waterbodies and posing threat to the environment.

A thick layer of oil has been floating on the canal water and extending to the river Karnaphuli. The spilled oil has also getting into nearby paddy fields.

Railway sources said the train was carrying the oil for Dohazari Peaking Power Plant from Chittagong port city and each of the wagons was carrying around 25,000 liters of oil.

Moreover, three people, including the train's Loco Master Sahidullah and Assistant Loco Master Zafar, were injured in the accident.

On the other hand, environment ministry officials expressed their concern over the accident as the spilling oil has been posing threat to the environment. They also blamed the railway authorities for their negligence.

BDST: 1452 HRS, JUN 21, 2015
RR/SMS