NATIONAL
CTG-Cox's Bazar train services resume after 5 days of suspension due to floods & heavy rain
Chattogram-Cox's Bazar trains resumed after a five-day suspension from record rains and flash floods; Parjotak Express first to run after track repairs.
FARABI SAIFULLAH
Collected
BIONIC READING
In a Nutshell:
- Continuous monsoon rain starting July 4 submerged the rail line between Sunnia Madrasah and Shamsher Para under one-and-a-half to two feet of water last Tuesday, forcing a five-day suspension of all Chattogram-Cox's Bazar services until repairs, including raising track sections by about a foot with ballast stones, made the line operational again.
- Bangladesh Railway's Eastern Zone, represented by General Manager Md. Shuboktagin and Divisional Transport Officer Farhan Mahmud, led the inspection and restoration effort, with State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid visiting the damaged sections on Wednesday.
- Services resumed Sunday with the Parjotak Express departing Chattogram for Cox's Bazar at 1:35 pm, the stranded Prabal Express was safely brought back from Janalihat to Chattogram, and officials declared the line safe despite renewed rainfall that same morning.
Why it Matters
This event shows that even train lines are not spared from heavy monsoon damage, though quick coordinated action between the railway authority and the government helped restore the route within days.
- The affected route is a high-traffic corridor, running four daily train pairs and carrying 8,000–9,000 passengers on average, so its closure interrupted travel for a large volume of people over an extended period.
- Officials described the rainfall as record-breaking even after drainage improvements, suggesting existing infrastructure may be increasingly tested by more severe or frequent monsoon events, prompting direct involvement from senior government figures.
- Because heavy rain returned on the same day services resumed, the durability of the emergency repairs may soon face a renewed test, raising the possibility of further disruption if flooding recurs.
Who it matters to
The disruption and recovery touched several distinct groups, from ordinary travelers to the officials responsible for keeping the rail line running.
- Passengers depending on the route between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, including those aboard the stranded Parjotak Express whose journey was cancelled at midnight, faced days of cancelled or interrupted travel.
- Residents near Sunnia Madrasah and Shamsher Para experienced the same flooding that submerged the rail line, indicating the rainfall's impact extended beyond train operations into the surrounding areas.