20 Students Injured in Overcrowded Train Roof Accident at Chittagong University
At least 20 students from Chittagong University (CU) have sustained injuries after being hit by a low-hanging branch of a tree while riding on the roof of an overcrowded train. The incident took place on Thursday night as the students were returning to campus. Three of the injured students are currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), two are in the surgery ward, and the rest are in the casualty department.
The names of eight students who were admitted have been identified as Amzad Hossain Sohag, Taijul Islam, Khalilur Rahman, Aunginu Marma, Abu Sayeed, Mohammad Sun, Aslam, and Rafsan. After being informed about the incident, CU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shireen Akhter immediately rushed to the CMCH (Chittagong Medical College and Hospital) and assured the students that the university administration would stand by them. She also directed the hospital authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured students.
According to the regular schedule, a shuttle train bound for the university, carrying over 2,000 students, departed from New Market Station in the city at 8:30pm on Thursday. The accident occurred when the train reached the Fatehabad area under Hathazari upazila. Due to heavy rainfall, a low-hanging branch of a tree struck some of the students, causing them to fall off the roof of the train. Moazzem Hossain, a first-year student at the university, explained that the incident happened around 9pm when the train was passing through the Chowdhuryhat area. He added that approximately 15 to 20 students were injured, with eight of them in critical condition. Most of the injuries were sustained on their heads and faces.
In response to the incident, angry CU students vandalized the campus’s police outpost, shops, and other valuables, including chairs and tables. They also set fire to tires in front of the university’s Zero Point. The students later moved to the bungalow of the university’s vice chancellor and caused further chaos, resulting in panic on campus.
Ratan Kumar Chowdhury, the manager of Chattogram Railway Station, expressed that students are consistently advised against riding on the roof of the trains due to safety concerns, but they often disregard the instructions. Despite the accident, the train eventually arrived at the campus with the remaining students. Dr. Md Morshedul Alam, assistant proctor of CU, mentioned that approximately 15 to 20 students were critically injured when they fell off the train’s roof after being struck by the tree branch.
Chittagong University currently has around 28,000 students, and two shuttle trains operate daily between the campus and New Market Station. However, the movement of demu trains has been suspended due to a lack of manpower during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the number of trains and their capacity has not been increased to accommodate the growing number of students each year.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to safety guidelines while commuting. Authorities need to take urgent action to improve transportation facilities for students to prevent such accidents in the future.
