MULTAN/RAWALPINDI: At least six people were killed while more than 100 others injured in two separate train accidents in Punjab, rescue officials said on Thursday.
In the first incident, four people were killed and several more than 100 injured as a passenger train collided with a goods train on late Wednesday night at Buch Railway Station near Multan.
The Awami Express, heading to Karachi from Peshawar, struck a freight train that was standing on the tracks. Rescue officials said that around 50 injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital, Multan, while more than 50 were provided first aid on the spot.
Dr Kaleem, a rescue emergency officer, said that the rescue operations had been completed. He added that 40 ambulances, along with 200 rescuers from Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Multan participated in the operations. Personnel of the Pakistan Army also participated in the rescue operations.
Pakistan Railways Multan Division Vigilance Director Saima Khizar said that the affected people had been shifted to Multan through private transport, from where they would be taken to Karachi.
She further said that efforts were being made to clear the railway track. She added that it would take up to 18 hours to make the track functional.
Saima blamed the accident on the passenger train driver, saying he failed to heed a red signal that went up after the goods train had stopped.
Three of the four killed in the accident were identified as Nasir (23), son of Allah Daad of Rahim Yar Khan, Sardar (40), son of Ilyas of Rahim Yar Khan and Gul Hassan (55) of Ghotki. Their bodies were handed over to their heirs, officials at the Multan railway station said.
Rescuers claimed that they had provided first aid to more than 60 passengers and many others were shifted to Nishtar Hospital, where 31 passengers were under treatment, adding that eight of them were critically hurt. Rescue 1122 sources said that the eight people fighting for their lives were identified as Abdullah of Mirpur Mathelo, Karim Bakhsh of Mirpur Khas, Shahid of Sadiqabad, Ishaq of Samasatta, Ali Bakhsh of Mirpur Khas, Naseer of Lahore, Uzair of Lahore and Asghar Ali.
On the other hand, two people were killed after a passenger train hit a vehicle at a railway crossing in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The incident took place at Hatar Phatak in Fateh Jang. According to sources, Multan-bound Mehr Express hit the vehicle, as the crossing was not closed.
Meanwhile, the federal government’s Railways Inspector Mian Arshad reached Multan for investigating the accident.
Divisional Commercial Officer in Multan Tahir Marwat told APP that a counter was being set up outside the railway station for providing information to the relatives of the injured passengers. He said that the Pakistan Railways would continue to extend support to the injured until they were fully recovered and discharged from the hospital.
Also, Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafique on Thursday sought a report on the Multan train accident within 72 hours.
He directed the Pakistan Railways administration to prepare a detailed enquiry report on the accident.
He expressed grief over the loss of four lives and injuries to several people.
Saad Rafique said it was the responsibility of the Pakistan Railways administration to help the injured passengers reach their destinations after proper provision of medical treatment.
He said that as provided in the Pakistan Railways manual, Rs 800,000 would be paid to the heirs of each deceased and Rs 300,000 to each injured.
The minister said that every passenger of the Pakistan Railways was considered insured once he stepped in, and was paid proper compensation in case of an accident, he told a private news channel.
