Monday saw a tragic incident in eastern Bangladesh, as two trains collided, resulting in the loss of at least 17 lives and leaving numerous individuals injured, according to local police.

The collision occurred when a passenger train collided with a freight train in Bhairab, situated approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of the capital city, Dhaka.

Rescue operations are still ongoing, with 17 fatalities confirmed, and the death toll may rise as the operation continues, as reported by Reuters. The freight train collided with the passenger train from behind, causing significant damage to two coaches.

Preliminary reports suggest that the freight train may have disregarded a signal, which appears to have been a contributing factor to this tragic event, according to Anowar Hossain, superintendent of Dhaka Railway Police.

Authorities have initiated a formal investigation to determine the precise causes and factors leading to the collision.

The collision resulted in many individuals becoming trapped inside the affected trains, leading to significant casualties. Mohammad Masud, the local fire service chief, stated that the majority of the casualties occurred at the time of impact.

Train accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in Bangladesh, with causes often attributed to issues such as unsupervised rail crossings, inadequate signaling, and poor track conditions.