NAWABSHAH / ISLAMABAD: A deadly train crash occurred near Sahara Railway Station, approximately 275 kilometers away from Karachi, Today . As many as 10 bogies of the Havelian-bound Hazara Express derailed, resulting in the tragic death of nearly 25 passengers and injuries to over 80 others.
Accidents on Pakistan’s decaying rail system occur frequently, and successive governments have been attempting to secure funds to upgrade the rail network as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative for infrastructure projects.
Following the train crash, operations to and from the interior districts of Sindh were suspended, raising concerns about significant material and human losses.
Younis Chandio, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Benazirabad, reported that nine out of 10 wrecked bogies were already cleared, with the injured and deceased being rescued.
However, clearing the remaining bogie requires heavy machinery.
Earlier, the railway authorities had indicated that restoring operations might require up to 18 hours, and recovering the tracks would be time-consuming, given the need to remove the bogies.
The police promptly rushed to the incident site after the crash and, with the assistance of locals present on the spot, transferred the injured passengers to People’s Medical Hospital in Nawabshah.
Authorities are concerned about significant material and human losses, as the ill-fated train is believed to have been carrying more passengers than its capacity allowed.
The reason behind the train derailment remains unknown.
The senior superintendent of police reported that the train, consisting of 17 bogies with a capacity of 950 passengers in its economy class and 72 in its air-conditioned standard coach, derailed on its route from Karachi to Havelian in district Sanghar.
He mentioned that the rescue work involves the participation of 10 Station House Officers, four district superintendent of police (DSPs), and over 100 police personnel.
Army and Rangers have joined the police in the rescue efforts
Police personnel from the Police Training Center are actively participating in relief work at the site.
The relief activities were joined by the Pakistan Army, following special instructions issued by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.
Additional troops were called in from Hyderabad and Sakrand, and army aviation helicopters were deployed for the rescue efforts.
The military personnel are bringing edibles for the rescued passengers.
Meanwhile, sources from the Rangers informed Geo News that personnel from the paramilitary force have also been dispatched for rescue work as per the directives of Sindh Rangers Director General (DG) Major General Azhar Waqas.
“Trained personnel have been sent to the accident site for immediate rescue,” the sources stated while further adding that the personnel will promptly transfer the injured to the hospital.
Ambulances have arrived at the site, offering medical aid and food to the rescued passengers.
Deliberate attempt
During a press conference, Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation, Khawaja Saad Rafique, raised the possibility that the accident could have been caused either by deliberate action or a mechanical fault.
The federal minister said, “First, we will provide relief and then investigate. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is reaching the site. Emergency has been imposed in hospitals in Sukkur.”
Earlier, Railways Divisional Superintendent Sukkur Mahmoodur Rahman verified that the train crash had resulted in 10 bogies going off track.
He further stated that a relief train was dispatched to the incident site from the Loco Shed Rohri. It will take approximately three hours for the relief train to reach the site.
“Due to the accident, the traffic on the up track is suspended,” he said.
The police are actively conducting rescue efforts to retrieve passengers from the affected bogies now. The local administration has imposed an emergency in nearby hospitals following the accident.
It is worth noting that the same locomotive, which was enroute to Havelian from Karachi, narrowly escaped a serious accident in March of this year when railway officials placed a rusted train on the tracks. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
This latest accident occurred just one day after three coaches of Allama Iqbal Express, traveling from Karachi to Sialkot, derailed, fortunately causing no injuries.
Pakistan has a concerning track record when it comes to train accidents. Over the past decade, the country has witnessed numerous deadly train accidents, and their frequency seems to have increased in recent years.
