Ctg–Cox's Bazar rail services suspended as tracks go under floodwater

Train services on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route were suspended on Wednesday after continuous rainfall and flash floods from surrounding hills submerged parts of the railway line.

Bangladesh Railway's Director of Public Relations Anisur Rahman said around two feet of water had inundated the tracks between Janalihat and Sholoshahar stations.

"For safety reasons, railway authorities have temporarily suspended all train operations on the route until the water levels recede," he said.

The suspension came after Tuesday night's cancellation of the Parjatak Express, which was heading to Cox's Bazar. The train service was cancelled at around 11pm after the train remained stranded for nearly 11 hours due to flooding.

According to railway sources, the Parjatak Express left Dhaka's Kamalapur Railway Station at 6:15am with around 800 passengers and was scheduled to reach Cox's Bazar at 2:45pm.

However, the train became stranded near Sholoshahar Station in Chattogram at around 12:30pm after heavy rainfall submerged railway tracks at several points in the city.

The train was initially halted near the Sunnia Madrasah area in Muradpur before being moved to the front of Sholoshahar Railway Station.

Farhan Mahmud, Divisional Transport Officer of Bangladesh Railway's Chattogram Division, said nearly 20 inches of water remained over the tracks.

"Train engines cannot operate safely unless the water level drops to at least six inches," he said.

Railway authorities said passengers affected by the cancellation of services are being provided full ticket refunds.

Four pairs of trains, including two pairs from Chattogram and two pairs from Dhaka, operate daily on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar route.

Sholoshahar Railway Station Master Ariful Islam said no trains had operated on the route since Wednesday morning due to the flooded tracks.

He added that services would resume once the water receded and the railway line was declared safe for operation.