Six coaches of the Chattogram-bound Paharika Express detached from the train while it was passing through the Lawachara-Magurchara section in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar on Friday, causing a delay of around four and a half hours and disrupting train services on the route.

The incident occurred in the afternoon when the train was travelling towards Chattogram.

According to railway sources, locomotive 3021 initially faced difficulties crossing the hilly section due to wheel slip. Locomotive driver Tajul Islam, trouble-shooter Imran and on-duty attendants spent nearly two hours trying to overcome the problem by applying sand beneath the wheels.

The train eventually managed to cross the hilly section at around 2:38pm.

During the process, excessive bumping and heat reportedly developed in the locomotive. At one stage, six coaches became detached from the rear portion of the train around kilometre 295/1.

The detached coaches remained behind, while the locomotive and the front section, carrying 11 coaches including the luggage coach, moved forward towards Sreemangal. The train reached around kilometre 295/3, on the southern side of the Lawachara tea garden, about five kilometres east of Sreemangal Railway Station.

The Paharika Express was scheduled to arrive at Sreemangal Railway Station at 12:57pm and depart at 1:02pm after a five-minute halt. However, it reached the station at around 5:30pm, leaving passengers waiting for several hours.

Md Sakhawat Hossain, station master of Sreemangal Railway Station, said the situation became tense after passengers learned about the technical problem in the Magurchara area.

The incident also disrupted the operation of another Paharika Express service operating on the Chattogram-Sylhet route.

No passenger was reported injured or killed in the incident. However, the train's electrical cables and coach coupling hooks were reportedly severely damaged.

Railway authorities were working to recover the six detached coaches from the Lawachara area.

As of the filing of this report, the Paharika Express was standing at the site with 11 coaches.

The exact cause of the coach detachment could not immediately be ascertained. Railway officials said the cause would be determined after a technical inspection.