Mishap on Jamuna bridge delays trains

A truck broke down on Bangabandhu Bridge on the wee hours of today, compelling a delay in the schedule of at least five northern districts-bound trains.

The incident took place around 1:30am, our local correspondent reports. Train schedule resumed after the vehicle was dragged away an hour later.

A potato laden truck turned turtle and spilled sacks of potatoes on the railway tracks, forcing a halt, Rezaul Karim, station master of Bangabandhu Bridge Railway Station (East), told our Tangail correspondent this morning.

Sayedur Rahman, assistant director of Bangladesh Railway, told The Daily Star at least five trains suffered schedule delays ranging from an hour to half-an-hour.

Padma Express, Sundarban Express, Dhumketu Express, Lalmonirhat Express and Ekota Express were those which were confirmed delayed by the mishap on Jamuna bridge.

Salvage operation was completed within an hour and trains resumed shortly, Ahsanul Kabir Pavel, assistant engineer of Bangabandhu Bridge Railway, told The Daily Star.

Last reported, train schedule of the north was managed aptly and almost brought to normal, except for Rangpur Express, which was still running an hour late.

However, some other small road accidents on the bridge have caused heavy traffic on a single lane of the bridge. Last reported, traffic was slow on the lane.