Train services on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route have been suspended indefinitely after several sections of the railway track were submerged by floodwaters following four consecutive days of heavy rainfall, railway officials said on Wednesday.
The suspension forced the Cox’s Bazar Express, which departed Dhaka for Cox’s Bazar, to terminate its journey at Chattogram before returning to the capital.
The scheduled departure of the Parjatak Express from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka at 7:30am was also cancelled.
Station Master of the Cox’s Bazar Iconic Railway Station Md Zainal Abedin confirmed the development.
“Several sections of the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway line have gone under water due to heavy rainfall.
Considering passenger safety, train operations have been suspended indefinitely following instructions from the higher authorities,” he said.
He added that railway engineers would inspect the tracks once floodwaters recede before a decision is taken to resume services.
At present, the Cox’s Bazar Express and Parjatak Express operate between Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, while the Prabal Express and Saikat Express run on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar route.
All four services remain suspended because of the inundated tracks.
The sudden suspension has left many tourists and local passengers stranded, with many reportedly opting to travel by road instead.
Meanwhile, Cox’s Bazar has recorded 506 millimetres of rainfall over the past four days, triggering widespread flooding, waterlogging and landslides across the district.
According to Assistant Meteorologist Abdul Hannan of the Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office, the district recorded 240mm of rainfall on Sunday, 129mm on Monday, 69mm on Tuesday and 68mm between 6:00am and 3:00pm on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative rainfall to 506mm.
The prolonged downpour has claimed 19 lives, including 16 Rohingyas and three local residents, in a series of landslides across the district.
Railway authorities said train services would resume only after the weather improves and safety inspections confirm that the tracks are fit for operation.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Collected
