Child Found Dead on Train Roof in Pabna

A young boy was found dead on the roof of the Rajshahi-bound Dhumketu Express after the train arrived at Ishwardi Bypass Railway Station in Pabna on Tuesday morning, prompting an investigation by railway police into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The victim has been identified as 11-year-old Nirab Hossain, son of the late Biru Mia from Kulagati village in Dhunat Upazila of Bogura District. According to railway police, the child sustained a visible head injury, which investigators believe may have proved fatal while the train was in motion.

The incident came to light at around 11:30 a.m. when the Dhumketu Express reached Ishwardi Bypass Station. Witnesses said several passengers noticed the bloodied body lying on the roof of the train shortly after its arrival. They immediately alerted station authorities, who informed the railway police. Officers then recovered the body from the rooftop and secured the scene for further examination.

Officer-in-Charge Ziaur Rahman of Ishwardi Railway Junction Police Station said preliminary findings suggest that the boy may have suffered a fatal head injury after striking part of a railway bridge or another overhead structure while travelling on the roof of the moving train. He stressed, however, that the exact cause of death would be determined only after the completion of the legal and forensic procedures.

Police were able to establish the child’s identity through a mobile phone found in his pocket. His family was subsequently contacted and informed of the incident. Authorities said the body would be handed over to the family once all legal formalities had been completed.

Investigators are continuing to examine how the child came to be on the roof of the train. No indication has yet been given as to where he boarded the train or whether he was travelling alone. Railway police are expected to gather additional information from station officials, railway personnel and any available witnesses as part of the ongoing inquiry.

Travelling on the roofs of trains remains an extremely dangerous practice despite repeated warnings from railway authorities. Such journeys expose passengers to numerous life-threatening hazards, including collisions with bridges, overhead structures and electrical equipment. Railway officials have frequently urged passengers to travel only inside designated compartments and to avoid taking unnecessary risks that can result in serious injury or death.

The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have said further details will be released if new evidence emerges.