Bangladesh railway authorities have suspended two gatekeepers for alleged negligence following a crash between a passenger train and a bus at a level crossing in Cumilla that killed 12 people.

Mostafizur Rahman, divisional manager of the railway’s Chattogram division, confirmed the suspensions. He said Helal Uddin and Mehedi Hasan were temporarily removed from duty on Sunday morning over allegations of negligence of duty at the Paduar Bazar crossing.

The collision occurred around 3 am on early Sunday, when a train travelling from Chattogram to the capital, struck a bus operated by Mamun Paribahan. The bus was travelling from Chapainawabganj to Noakhali. After the impact, the train dragged the vehicle about half a kilometre along the tracks, police said.

Those killed included seven men, two women and three children, according to officials. The injured were taken to Cumilla Medical College Hospital.