Rail communication between Chattogram and the rest of the country was suspended for about one and a half hours on Sunday after a collision between a freight-laden pickup truck and the Paharika Express at Mirsharai in Chattogram district.

The accident occurred around 9:00AM at Sonapahar Darbar Tila area under Jorarganj union of Mirsharai upazila when a sand-laden pickup truck attempted to cross an unauthorized railway crossing and was hit by the incoming train bound for Sylhet.

Following the collision, the pickup truck was severely damaged and became lodged with the train, also causing minor damage to a train door. The train came to a halt immediately after the impact, resulting in the suspension of rail services on the Chattogram route.

Railway officials and law enforcement personnel later recovered the vehicle and cleared the track after about 90 minutes, restoring normal train operations.

Chittagong Railway Station’s Assistant Station Master Golam Sarwar confirmed that the accident occurred while the pickup truck was illegally crossing the railway line. He added that train services resumed after the damaged vehicle was removed from the track.