OUR CORRESPONDENT, Bogura

A shadow of grief fell over Nizpara village in Gaibandha’s Sadullapur upazila yesterday as residents gathered to bury four of their own.

The deceased -- Nargis Begum, 35; her son Md Nirob, 11; Sultan Mahmud, 25; and Ripa Khatun, 20 -- were among five people run over by a train at Kalihati upazila in Tangail on Friday night.

The fifth victim, Dola Begum, 35, was from Chatragachha village of Sadullapur upazila.

Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded when the bodies arrived yesterday morning, with relatives and neighbours crowding for a final glimpse.

Police in Tangail said passengers of a Dhaka-bound bus had stepped off after the driver pulled over on the highway when the vehicle ran out of fuel. Some sat on the nearby railway tracks, where the Sirajganj Express struck them.

Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman of Tangail Railway Station outpost said the bodies were handed over to families late Friday night.

Relatives said most of the victims were garment workers returning to Dhaka after the Eid holidays.

Ripa’s father, Abdur Rashid, a marginal farmer, broke down in tears. She had been working for four years to support the family.

“I had hoped to arrange her marriage soon, but those dreams are now shattered,” Rashid said.

Sultan was the sole breadwinner of his family, as his elderly father is unable to work.

Side-by-side graves were dug for Nargis and her son Nirob.

In Chatragachha, neighbours said Dola had just celebrated her only daughter’s wedding during the Eid holidays before heading back to work.

Family members said the victims were buried after Zohr prayers.