Rail communication between Chattogram and the rest of Bangladesh has been suspended following a fatal train accident in Cumilla that left 12 people dead and at least 20 injured. The collision occurred around 3 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, when a passenger bus from Chapainawabganj to Noakhali collided with a mail train traveling from Chattogram to Dhaka near the Paduar Bazar rail crossing. The injured were taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

A relief train from Akhaura reached the accident site about five hours later to begin recovery operations, according to the Chattogram divisional railway manager Mostafizur Rahman. He stated that the mail train involved in the crash was the only one operating on Eid day, and regular train schedules are expected to resume the following day. The official added that trains departing from Dhaka and Chattogram may face slight delays reaching Cumilla until the damaged train is cleared.

Authorities have formed three investigation committees and announced financial assistance of 25,000 taka for each victim’s family.