Bogies derail during track change at Farooqabad station
SHEIKHUPURA: A Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derailed near Farooqabad in Sheikhupura on Friday morning, forcing the suspension of rail traffic on the Lahore-Faisalabad section, according to 24NewsHD TV.
Railway officials said a central bogie of the Shalimar Express came off the track while the train was changing rails at Farooqabad Railway Station. Consequently, operations on the busy route were halted as authorities assessed the situation and initiated recovery efforts.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the train driver continued traveling at around 100 kilometers per hour for nearly six kilometers after the derailment. As a result, the affected portion of the track sustained significant damage. The train was reportedly carrying 12 bogies at the time of the incident.
Moreover, the driver later detached six bogies and proceeded toward Lahore with the remaining portion of the train. Following the incident report, rescue and railway teams rushed from Lahore to the site to begin restoration work and ensure safety clearance.
Emergency response launched as authorities begin investigation
Meanwhile, local administration officials also reached the location. On the directives of Deputy Commissioner Sheikhupura Shahid Imran Marath, Assistant Commissioner Imran Ali Haral supervised on-ground operations and coordinated relief efforts.
In addition, railway authorities confirmed that emergency teams worked to restore track connectivity and remove the derailed bogies. Traffic on the section remained suspended until further notice.
Earlier, on April 8, a similar incident involving the Shalimar Express occurred near Nawabshah, where three coaches derailed. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in that case.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether technical faults or track conditions caused the latest derailment, while restoration work continues to resume rail operations.
