Pakistan train tragedy: 15 killed, over 40 injured as train derails in southern Pakistan
Pakistan Train Tragedy: A devastating train derailment in southern Pakistan has resulted in at least 15 fatalities and left 40 others injured, as reported by the country's state television channel, citing railway officials. The incident occurred near the Sahara railway station in Nawabshah, a city in the southern Sindh province.
Khawaja Saad Rafique, the railways minister, stated that it was a significant accident, and rescue teams were swiftly deployed to the site. "More rescue teams have been dispatched to the site," he added.
The train involved was the Hazara Express, which was en route from Karachi to Abbottabad. Tragically, eight coaches of the train derailed during the incident, causing severe damage and chaos.
Local media shared images of the scene, revealing a harrowing sight with passengers attempting to escape the twisted carriages. Many people gathered around the site, with some even breaking windows to aid the rescue efforts. One of the coaches was found overturned, adding to the gravity of the situation.
Ijaz Shah, a provincial railway official, confirmed the loss of several passengers' lives and revealed that a relief train had been sent to the scene to assist in the rescue operations.
Unfortunately, such accidents and derailments are not uncommon on Pakistan's outdated railway system. The incident in June 2021, where two trains collided near Daharki in Sindh, claimed the lives of 65 people and injured around 150 others. In that case, an express train derailed onto the opposite track, and a second passenger train collided with the wreckage just a minute later.
Tragically, Pakistan has witnessed other catastrophic incidents in the past. In October 2019, at least 75 passengers were killed in a fire aboard the Tezgam express train, while a two-train collision in Ghotki claimed the lives of over 100 people in 2005.
The recent derailment has raised concerns over the safety and maintenance of Pakistan's railway infrastructure, prompting authorities to reevaluate and enhance safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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- With inputs from agencies
