Tourist Express Stranded in Chattogram After Flooded Tracks

A Cox’s Bazar-bound Tourist Express train carrying around 1,000 passengers has been stranded in Chattogram after heavy rainfall and waterlogging submerged parts of the railway track. The train came to a halt in the Sholoshahar area of the city on Tuesday (7 July), leaving passengers facing uncertainty and inconvenience.

The train stopped at around 12:40pm after water accumulated on the railway line due to continuous heavy rain. Many passengers, particularly women, children and elderly travellers, expressed concern as the sudden stoppage disrupted their journey towards Cox’s Bazar.

According to railway officials, the Tourist Express began its journey from Kamalapur Railway Station in Dhaka at approximately 6:15am on Tuesday. The train reached and crossed Sholoshahar Station in Chattogram at around 12:35pm. Shortly afterwards, heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise over the tracks, creating a potentially risky situation.

The train driver decided to stop the locomotive as a precautionary measure to prevent water from entering the engine and causing serious mechanical problems or a possible accident. Since then, the train has remained stationary in the affected area.

Railway authorities said efforts are underway to restore normal operations and ensure the safety of passengers. Officials are preparing to bring another locomotive to the site so that the stranded train can be pulled back towards Chattogram, allowing passengers to continue their journey once conditions improve.

Shahjalal Railway officials said the movement of trains on the route has been temporarily suspended because of waterlogging on the tracks. Shajahan Railway Station officials are also monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant departments to resolve the issue.

Janalihat Station Master Nezam Uddin said that train operations were halted because the railway line was submerged under water. He confirmed that nearly 1,000 passengers were travelling on the stranded Tourist Express.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by railway services during periods of intense monsoon rainfall in coastal and low-lying areas. Waterlogging can disrupt transport networks, especially when railway infrastructure is affected by sudden increases in water levels. Railway authorities have been working to minimise delays and ensure passenger safety while waiting for the water to recede and normal train movement to resume.