Online Desk: At least 17 people were killed and scores injured on Monday when a cargo train rammed into two bogies of a passenger train at Bhairab Rail Station in Kishoreganj district on Monday, police and officials said.

The accident occurred at 3:50 pm when the cargo train hit from behind the Dhaka-bound Egarosindhur Godhuli Express which was coming from Kishoreganj. The passenger train was standing on the outer tracks on its way to the capital city from the port city of Chottogram.

Two rear bogies of the passenger train were smashed with many travellers stuck inside.

Rescuers from police, fire service and Rab pulled out many bodies from inside the wreckage of the two badly mangled compartments.

Seventeen bodies have so far been recovered, said Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The death toll is likely to rise as many are still trapped inside the mangled coaches of the passenger train, rescuers said. The coaches overturned due to the impact of the crash.

The train communication of Kishoreganj with other parts of the country remained suspended following the accident.

Four firefighting units rushed to the spot and are conducting the rescue operation, Shahjahan told UNB.

The deceased could not be immediately identified.