2 trains derail in Muzaffargarh

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

A Multan-bound passenger train and a freight train derailed on Monday near the Bhattapur railway station in Muzaffargarh.

Railway traffic remained suspended for 12 hours after Mehar Express and the freight train derailed within a span of four hours. Initial reports indicated that the accidents were caused by a weakened railway line. Authorities had earlier stopped Mehar Express at the Mehmoodkot railway station for four hours on receiving information that a freight train had derailed near the Bhattapur railway station in Muzaffargarh at 7am.

Later, the locomotive and two bogies of the passenger train derailed in the same area. No casualties were reported in both incidents. Hundreds of passengers were onboard Mehar Express who were travelling home after spending Eid holidays in their hometowns.

The train service on the track was restored after rescue and relief efforts of 12 hours. A number of locals arrived to help passengers soon after the accident.

Pakistan Railways Divisional Superintendent Farrukh and DCO’s media coordinator Tahir Masood could not be reached for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2015.