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Karachi. In Pakistan,(Pakistan)_ 10 coaches of Hazara Express going from Karachi to Rawalpindi derailed, killing at least 33 people and injuring over 80. Pakistani news channel PTV has given this information. On the other hand, according to Geo News, more people are expected to be injured in this gruesome train accident near Sarhari railway station in Nawabshah area, located about 275 km from Karachi. The injured passengers have been taken to the nearest hospital.
The administration is carrying out rescue operations and an emergency has been declared in nearby hospitals. The reason for the derailment of the train is yet to be ascertained. Nawabshah DC Shaharyar Gul Memon said that the rescue operation is still going on and emergency has been declared in nearby hospitals. He further said that ambulances and rescue workers have been sent to the spot for relief operations.
“Due to the accident, traffic on the up track has been suspended,” Geo News quoted Superintendent of Sukkur Railway Division Mahmudur Rahman as saying, while Mohsin Sial, Sukkur Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) of Pakistan Railways, was quoted as saying by Pakistani news channel Dawn. “I am going to the accident site,” said the official, adding, “Some people are saying that five coaches have derailed, some are saying that eight coaches have derailed and some are saying that 10 coaches have derailed.” Have derailed.
Train coaches badly damaged
Eyewitnesses and the police told that the Hazara Express derailed near Sarhari railway station, located between Shahzadpur and Nawabshah in Sindh province. On the other hand, in local TV footage and videos going viral on social media, train coaches are seen badly damaged at the accident site near Sarhari railway station. In the footage, rescue workers and policemen were seen pulling people out of the derailed coaches. Common people were also seen involved in the rescue work.
Addressing a press conference, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq said that according to preliminary reports, the train was running at normal speed. He said that ‘sabotage’ or ‘mechanical fault’ cannot be ruled out behind this major train accident.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari directed the Sindh government to provide immediate treatment to passengers injured in the train accident and called upon PPP workers to participate in relief and rescue activities. Bilawal’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is in power in Sindh province.
Train accidents happen frequently
Rail accidents are frequent in Pakistan due to outdated track maintenance systems, signaling problems, technical equipment and old engines. The worst train accident in Sindh happened near Sukkur in 1990, when 307 people were killed.
A day before Sunday’s accident, three coaches of the Karachi-Sialkot-bound Allama Iqbal Express derailed but no one was injured. In April this year, seven people were killed when a coach of the Karachi Express going from Karachi to Lahore caught fire near Tando Masti Khan in Khairpur district of southern Sindh province. On the other hand, on June 7, 2021, 32 people were killed and 64 were injured in a collision between two express trains in Ghotki, Sindh. In February 2020, 19 people were killed when a bus was hit by a train near Rohri station in Sindh.
