Fatal accident: Three dead as trains collide near Multan

‘Negligent’ driver rams Awami Express into stationary cargo train.

MULTAN: A collision between passenger and freight trains near Multan killed at least three people and left more than 100 people injured on Thursday, suspending railway traffic for several hours.

The Awami Express train, travelling from Peshawar to Karachi, rammed into the cargo carrier, which had come to a stop after running over a man near Shujabad, police and rescuers said. Police said the man had committed suicide under the locomotive.

The goods train was stopped at the Sher Shah Junction near the Bichh station just minutes before the arrival of Awami Express, which failed to apply brakes on time.

Four bogies of the passenger train derailed after the accident, leaving more than 100 people injured. The train had left Multan for Karachi at 2:35am and the mishap took place at 3:48am. The drivers of both trains fled the spot after the accident.

Multan Division’s Signals Director Nadeem Majid told The Express Tribune that the red light was turned on about four kilometres ahead of the accident site but the Awami Express driver neglected it.

About 150 feet of railway track was damaged, which would have to be replaced.

An eyewitness also blamed the driver of Awami Express for the accident. He told The Express Tribune that the driver either missed the signal or there was a communication misunderstanding. “We only saw the train ramming into the stationary cargo carrier,” he added.

The deceased were identified as Nasir Allah Dad, 23, Sardar Ilyas, 40, and Gul Hassan, 50. Hassan was a livestock dealer and was returning home after selling cattle for Eidul Azha. He had Rs1.3 million in his bag, which was handed over by the police to his son Kareem Bux.

Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, a Rescue 1122 spokesman, said at least 40 injured passengers were shifted to Nishtar Hospital, where doctors said the condition of 18 passengers was critical.

District Emergency Officer Dr Kaleem, who led the rescue operation, said 250 officers, 25 Rescue 1122 ambulances along with other relief organisations took part in the rescue operation, which was joined by the soldiers of the second corps.

The Multan district government has imposed a medical emergency in all hospitals.

Multan DCO Nadir Chatta said all available resources would be utilised for providing the best available treatment to the injured people.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the train collision, and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser Chauhdry Arshad Saeed, former provincial minister Chauhdry Abdul Waheed Araain inquired after the wellbeing of injured passengers at the hospital.

Later in the day, the passengers of Awami Express were accommodated on other Karachi-bound trains on the orders of Pakistan Railways CEO Javed Anwar Hussain. Appropriate security measures were taken by Railways Police for transferring the luggage of passengers.

Acting deputy superintendent Saima Basheer said around 800 passengers were shifted in buses to the Bichh Railway Station, from where they would be sent onwards to their destinations through alternative trains. Police have established help centres and helpline 0611333 to provide information about the injured passengers and luggage.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2016.