NAWABSHAH, Aug (NNI): At least 34 people were killed while more than 80 others were injured when 10 bogies of Hazara Express, coming from Karachi to Havelian, derailed near Sirhari railway station, situated between Nawabshah and Shahzadpur, rescue officials said Sunday.
Railway officials reported that the tragic incident occurred near Saharai Railway Station, located between Shahzadpur and Nawabshah when the Hazara Express was en route from Karachi.
The derailment resulted in 10 bogies veering off the tracks, leading to chaos and injuries among the passengers on board.
The injured and bodies were transferred to People Medical University (PMU) Hospital in Nawabshah.
DC Nawabshah Shehryar Gul Memon said an emergency has been declared in nearby hospitals while the rescue operation is also underway. He further said ambulances and the rescue staffers have been sent to the spot to gear up for relief operation.
The local administration appealed to people to donate their blood to the injured. According to the report, 40 injured passengers’ condition was critical.
The cause of the derailment was not known till the filing of this report as officials reached the site to probe the incident.
Soon afterwards, on the special instructions of Army Chief General Asim Munir, contingents of the Pakistan Army and Rangers reached site of the incident and started relief and rescue activities immediately.
The contingents also brought with them food items for the affected people.
More contingents of army and Rangers were called in from Hyderabad and Sakrand.
Besides that, helicopters of Pakistan Army’s aviation also left for the accident site in order airlift the injured to hospitals.
Images posted to local media show dozens of people at the site, with some smashing windows to help passengers clamber out of the twisted carriages and at least one coach overturned.
On the other hand, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique ordered probe into the train crash.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he informed that he had directed the department officials to immediately start the investigation. The minister said speed of the train at the time of accident was 45 kilometers per hour. “This is quite a big accident. Rescue teams have reached on site and at least 15 passengers were killed and 45 injured,” Khawaja Saad Rafique told reporters. “More rescue teams have been dispatched to the site.”
A relief train, carrying bogies and heavy machinery, left Hyderabad for Nawabshah.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reached the spot of the train accident in Nawabshah and visited injured passengers admitted to the hospitals.
Murad Ali Shah offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. “The incident has deeply saddened me,” he said and ordered the provision of medical treatment to the injured forthwith.
The Chief Minister directed the divisional administration, police and health department staff to speed up relief operations.
CM Sindh instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Nawabshah to set up an emergency desk to make contact and provide information to the families of passengers properly.
Sindh Chief Minister also instructed the Commissioner of Hyderabad that Sindh Rescue Ambulances should also be brought from nearby cities.
CM Murad Ali Shah instructed the Inspector General of Sindh Police to send ladies police and women paramedical staff to the accident spot to provide medical facilities.
On the other hand, Pak army troops have also reached at the accident spot and started rescue operations while the air ambulance has also taken part to shift injured people to hospitals.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari expressed regret over the rail accident in Nawabshah.
The ruling Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP) President Asif Ali Zardari said in a statement that the Sindh government should provide the best treatment facilities to the injured passengers.
The report said PPPP President Asif Ali Zardari directed all his party’s elected representatives from Nawabshah to help the victims of the train accident at the spot.
He also expressed sympathy and condolence to the family members of the deceased persons. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured passengers of the unlucky train.
Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, who was at Tashkent in Uzbekistan at the time of the accident, also offered his condolences to the bereaved families.
He said he had been saddened by the incident. “The Punjab government shares the grief of those who lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy,” he said in his message, adding, “Our sympathies and prayers are with them. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace.” NNI
