At least 66 people were injured when nine coaches of the Nil Sagar Express derailed near Santahar Junction in Bogura’s Adamdighi upazila on Wednesday afternoon, reportedly after the locomotive driver ignored a signal.

Fire Service officials said 48 injured passengers were rescued from the scene, while the Railway Ministry confirmed the total number of 66.

Railway authorities have formed a four-member investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident. Two relief trains from Parbatipur and Ishwardi have been sent to recover the derailed coaches.

According to witnesses and local residents, maintenance work was ongoing on the railway line in the Bagbari area, where warning signals had been placed. The train, traveling from Dhaka to Nilphamari and carrying many Eid travelers, derailed about two kilometers after leaving Santahar Junction for Akkelpur. Some passengers riding on the roof fell and were injured, while many inside the coaches were also hurt.

Rescue teams took the injured to nearby hospitals, while stranded passengers continued their journeys using alternative transport.

Train services on the route have been suspended, disrupting rail links between Dhaka and five northern districts—Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, and Joypurhat.

At least five trains are currently stranded at different stations. Railway officials expect recovery work to continue until late at night and are trying to restore normal services as quickly as possible.