October 28, 2002	Monday	Sha’aban 21,1423

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DHAKA, Oct 27: At least eight people were killed and more than 30 injured when two passenger trains collided on Sunday near Akhaura town in southeastern Bangladesh, railway officials said.

They said the accident happened when a train bound for southeastern Chittagong from northeastern Sylhet hit a stationary train at Azampur railway station, 100 kms from capital Dhaka.

Three coaches of the Chittagong-bound train jumped the track, killing the passengers.

“Primary investigations suggest that the accident occurred as the train carrying about 600 passengers approached the station, ignoring a signal,” Mostafa-e-Jamil, a spokesman for the Bangladesh railway, said.

The railway authorities have suspended four people including the driver and his two assistants for ignoring the signal, he said.

He said the accident could have been more serious had the train been moving more quickly.

“The derailed and damaged coaches have been removed and the tracks reopened for restoring communication between Sylhet and Chittagong,” Jamil said. The injured passengers were being treated for fractured limbs at an Akhaura hospital.—Reuters