Tawhidul Islam, Cox's Bazar:

The body of a businessman who went missing after being hit by a train and falling into a canal from a bridge in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, was recovered 19 hours later by fire service personnel and local residents.

The body was found floating in the canal near the Govindpur-BM Char rail connection bridge in the Paharchanda area of Baraitali Union under Chakaria upazila around 11 AM on Saturday, according to Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shafiqul Islam.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Jabbar (50), son of Ahsab Mia from Jarulbunia area of Shilkhali Union in Pekua upazila. He was a cattle trader who operated in weekly markets.

On Friday afternoon, Abdul Jabbar along with two other traders was crossing the Govindpur-BM Char rail bridge in Baraitali Union with cattle when a fast-moving train heading toward Cox’s Bazar struck them. While Jabbar fell from the bridge into the canal, the other two managed to escape unhurt.

Following the incident, a rescue team from the fire service, alongside local residents, launched a search operation, but they were initially unable to locate the missing trader.

Moshiur Rahman stated that fire service personnel, along with locals, continued the search operation from the time of the incident. The operation was suspended after sunset on Friday due to darkness, though locals kept up the search efforts through the night.

“On Saturday around 11 AM, locals spotted a body floating in the canal a short distance from the scene of the accident and informed the police and fire service. Fire service members, with help from the locals, recovered the body,” he said.

Upon receiving the information, a police team arrived at the scene and sent the body to Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, confirmed the OC.