Rajbari railway Stationmaster Abed Ali told BSS that the Modhumati Express started from Daulatdia Ghat for Rajshahi with seven compartments.

Three rear compartments of the train skidded off the track when it reached a place between Goalunda and Pachuria stations. The driver of the train reached the Rajbari station with only four compartments.

Local people held the dilapidated rail track responsible for the accident, almost a common phenomenon now in the area. They said the express trains plying on this route meet accident 15/20 times every month, at times two or three times a day.

Railway sources said the government in 1998 closed all rail routes in the district but the Daulatdia Ghat-Rajshahi route was not closed considering its huge earnings. "Due to lack of maintenance and monitoring, the line is now on the verge of closure," they said.

The stationmaster said that communication on this route could be restored after rescuing the derailed compartments.