DHAKA (Reuters) - At least 8 people were killed and dozens injured when two trains carrying hundreds of passengers collided at a station east of the Bangladesh capital early on Wednesday, police and witnesses said.
The collision took place at Ashuganj station inBrahmanbaria district, more than 100 kms (63 miles) east ofDhaka, when the Sylhet-bound Upaban Express struck aNoakhali-bound train, railway officials said.
"So far we have recovered eight bodies and nearly 100 areinjured," said Kamruzzaman, of the Ashuganj Police Station.
Police, fire and civil defence officers, as well as localvolunteers, helped rescue operations.
The accident occurred just two days after a ferry capsizedin the Ghorautura river in nearby Kishoreganj district, killingat least 44 people.
Police said the search for more ferry victims had beenofficially abandoned on Tuesday night, but local volunteers andgrieving relatives of passengers were scouring the river formore bodies.
At least 25 people are missing, while a similar numbermanaged to swim to safety after the ferry went down during astorm on Monday night.
Four railway officials, including the Ashuganj stationmaster, have been suspended following Wednesday's train crashand an investigation is underway, a senior official at thecommunication ministry said.
Services resumed on the busy track after the mangledcoaches were removed.
(Reporting by Serajul Islam Quadir; Writing by Anis Ahmed;Editing buy David Fox)
