Four people were killed and six injured on Saturday morning as a train hit a three-wheeler at a level crossing in Natore.
Sources said the accident happened as the train, Chilahati-bound Titumeer Express coming from Rajshahi, rammed into a locally made three-wheeler known as bhotbhoty carrying 10 to 12 passengers at Karimpur Rail Gate near Abdulpur Railway Junction at around 7:30am.
The impact left three passengers of the Bhotbhoty dead on the spot and eight other seriously injured.
The deceased were identified as Swapan, 35, son of Gobinda Saha of Salampur village under Lalpur upazila, and Rayas, 52, son of the late Sabir Uddin, and Rashid, 45, son of Akkas Ali Mondol, of Kamer Hatty village.
Immediately after the accident, locals and the police rescued the injured and took them to Lalpur upazila health complex, where the doctors on duty advised them to shift five of the injured to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital as their condition was critical. On their way to the RMCH, another injured died, whose identity could not be established immediately.
Eyewitnesses said the rail gate was left open during the accident, although a gatekeeper is stationed there.
Md Sariful Islam, stationmaster of Abdulpur Junction, said the accident took place as the gatekeeper did not close the gate, though he had been ordered to do that.
Gatekeeper Asadul Haq claimed he could not close the gate as he was in the toilet at the time.
-With New Age input
