Twelve people were killed and at least 20 others injured after a mail train rammed into a bus at Paduar Bazar rail crossing in Cumilla on early Sunday (March 22).The accident occurred at around 3 am at the crossing in Paduar Bazar under Cumilla Sadar South upazila on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.The dead included seven men, three women and two children, but their identities could not be confirmed immediately.Sub-Inspector Saiful Islam of the Cumilla EPZ outpost under Sadar South Police Station said a Chattogram-bound mail train struck a Mamun Paribahan bus as it was crossing the tracks at dawn.

He said the train pushed the bus for nearly half a kilometre after the collision, leaving it badly mangled. Seven people were killed on the spot and five others died later.

Following the crash, members of the highway police and fire service launched a rescue operation and rushed the injured to hospital.

Md Borhan Uddin, who was on duty at the emergency department of Cumilla Medical College Hospital, said 12 bodies had been kept at the hospital. He said 15 of the injured had left after receiving primary treatment.

The bodies are being sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Three separate investigation committees have been formed over the incident. Two gatemen have also been suspended.

Train movement on the Chattogram-bound line resumed at 7:18 am after the accident. The Chattogram Mail later left Cumilla station for Chattogram.