Twenty passengers sustained critical injuries on Thursday when 11 coaches as well as the locomotive of Khushal Khan Khattak Express en route from Karachi to Peshawar derailed in a hilly area on Sehwan-Larkana track near Sehwan.
Reportedly, a team of rescue officers led by Karachi Divisional Superintendent Hafeezullah Bhurgari, Deputy Superintendent Shahid Hussain Samoon rushed to the spot to supervise relief and rehabilitation work. As a result of the incident, rail traffic travelling to Karachi was suspended near Sehwan. Railway officials said it would take 10 to 12 hours to clear the track.
Meanwhile, railways spokesperson confirmed that no deaths were reported and the injured passengers were rushed to a local hospital for medical attention in Sann town. Later, Sann Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Arbab Soomro and other railway staff working under Sehwan Station Master Majeed Soomro moved to the spot to assist passengers.
Meanwhile, the DSP said that the apparent cause of the accident was ‘unrepaired’ railway track and not any terrorist act. Majeed Soomro said that a technical team would hold a thorough probe to determine the actual cause of the accident. “Since the accident site is off the road, repair of the track may take more time than usual,” he said.
Pakistan Railway Assistant Engineer Maqsood Ahmed Larik led another team of 250 employees along with labourers to expedite the rehabilitation work after four hours of the accident, and subsequently restored eight coaches. He said that passengers were sent to Peshawar via a rescue train, and necessary measures were taken for passengers waiting at Amri railway station, who were facing shortages of food and water supply.
Published in Daily Times, September 28th 2018.