At least 30 people have been killed and more than 40 passengers injured in a collision between the Sir Syed Express and the Millat Express near Ghotki in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
According to Radio Pakistan, there was a head-on collision between Sir Syed Express and Millat Express near Daharki on Monday morning.
According to the report, the seriously injured passengers have been sent to the hospital while the rescue operation has started to rescue the passengers trapped in the bogies.
According to railways, Millat Express was going from Karachi to Sargodha while Sir Syed Express was going from Rawalpindi to Karachi.
After the accident, eight coaches of Millat Express and three coaches including the engine of Sir Syed Express derailed, while some bogies fell into the gorge.
The accident took place between Ghotki’s nearby Reti and Avbadu railway station. After this incident, the movement of trains has been stopped here.
Imran Khan tweeted
Expressing grief over the accident, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted, “Saddened by the death of 30 people in the tragic train accident in Ghotki this morning. Have asked to help the relatives. Orders have also been given to investigate about the lapses in railway security.
Shocked by the horrific train accident at Ghotki early this morning leaving 30 passengers dead. Have asked Railway Minister to reach site & ensure medical assistance to injured & support for families of the dead. Ordering comprehensive investigation into railway safety faultlines
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 7, 2021
DIG Sakhar Fida Hussain Mustui has confirmed the death of 30 people and fears that there may be more bodies trapped in the bogies and injured people, heavy machinery has arrived and relief work is on.
Information Minister Farrukh Habib has told that this area is close to the Punjab border, so the injured have been sent to hospitals in Ghotki and Punjab, while soldiers have also been deployed in the rescue work.
‘It was heart-wrenching’
Abdur Rahman had boarded the Sir Syed Ahmed Express from Faisalabad at 8 pm. He told BBC correspondent Riyaz Suhail that the train was running at over 100 speed and he was awake. There were strong tremors around 3.40 pm, the driver tried to stop the train but it collided.
He told that some bogies of Millat Express had come off the track and came on another track and the train itself went ahead.
“It was very dark at that time. After the accident, the people around started arriving on motorcycles. They pulled out people with the help of motorcycles and mobile lights. It was around five o’clock by the time the sun came out, police and ambulance had also reached there. ”
According to Abdur Rahman, it was a heart-wrenching scene, the wounded were screaming and they did not have the courage to see all this.
He said, “The local people helped a lot by taking the passengers who were safe on tractors, trolleys and motorcycles to Dharki.”
frequent train accidents
There have been frequent railway accidents in Pakistan and people also die in it.
In March this year, the Karachi-Lahore-bound Karachi Express derailed near Rohri town, injuring 30 people and killing one person.
In February last year, at least 22 people were killed when a Karachi-Lahore-bound Pakistan Express and a bus collided at Rohri in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
Prior to that, in the year 2019, 74 people died due to a fire in the Tezgam Express from Karachi to Rawalpindi in Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab province in Pakistan.
