Train crash investigation hampered due to ‘missing’ Turna Nishita driver

The district administration's investigation into the fatal train crash in Brahmanbaria is being hampered as the driver of one of the colliding trains was missing since the accident. 

The investigation committee, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria Mitu Mariyam, also could not talk to the station master who was on duty at time of the accident. 

On Tuesday, Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita rammed Chattogram-bound Udayan Express at Mandabagh Railway Station in Brahmanbaria's Kasba at around 3am, causing the death of 16 people and critically injuring over 100 others.

Mitu Mariyam said, "We talked to some witnesses. We went to the station today to collect some information, but we could not talk to the station master there. We will take his account of the incident before the next working day."

"We are mainly focusing on the issue of signal. We could not talk to the driver of the Turna Nishita as he went missing after the accident," she added.

The investigation committee is also considering the weather condition at the time of the accident. 

The additional deputy commissioner of Brahmanbaria said they would submit the investigation report on Sunday (November 17).

On Thursday, the investigation committee in Brahmanbaria visited the site of the accident for the second time. 

The committee thinks that the depositions of the Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, station master of Mandabagh railway station, and Taser Hossain, driver of the Turna Nishita, are crucial for determining the cause of the accident.