Ghotki: At least 31 people were killed while more than 100 were injured on Monday after two passenger trains collided near Daharki, a city located in the Ghotki district of upper Sindh, according to officials.
The accident took place around 03:30am after a Millat Express train — headed from Karachi to Sargodha — derailed and fell across the “down track”. Due to this, it collided with a Sir Syed Express train coming from Rawalpindi. The incident took place near the Raiti railway station.
The Millat Express train left Daharki station at 03:28am. The train had derailed at 03:38am. Meanwhile, the Sir Syed Express train passed through Raiti at 03:38am. As the coaches of the derailed train were infringing the down track, the driver tried to apply emergency brakes but the locomotive hit the infringing coaches at 03:38 am.
As a result of this accident, six coaches of Millat Express were derailed and five coaches overturned, while two coaches of the Sir Syed Express train were derailed and three overturned. As many as 31 people had been killed while more than 100 had been injured.
A relief train dispatched from Rohri while officials, along with police and the local administration, were carrying out rescue efforts. Helpline centres have been set up for passengers in Karachi, Sukkur, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.
Some of the passengers from the Sir Syed Express train have been taken to the Sadiqabad railway station.
Railway traffic would be restored when tracks are cleared. According to reports, the incident has paralysed railway traffic across the country.
Between 15 to 20 passengers are still trapped in the wreckage of the Millat Express train and authorities are trying to arrange heavy machinery to rescue those people who are crying for help.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was “shocked by the horrific train accident”.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and expressed grief over the lives lost. Speaking to the Sukkur Commissioner over the phone, he directed him to mobilise the district administration. “Machinery should be arranged to rescue passengers that are still stuck,” he said.
Arrangements should also be made at nearby hospitals to treat those that have been injured, he said. He also directed the official to arrange temporary accommodation and food for the passengers. “An information system should be set up so that citizens can get accurate information,” he said.
He said that the death toll is likely to rise as one of the bogies is still stuck in the wreckage. “The Pakistan Railways relief train has not yet reached the spot from Rohri,” he said.
