Accidents are regularly happening due to the poor maintenance of the rail infrastructure
TURBAT: At least more than three train accidents have occurred in the past two months. On 11th July, a passenger train crashed into a stationary freight train in Sadiqabad area of Punjab while it was en route to Quetta from Lahore.
The accident resulted in the death of 24 people and injuries to more than 90. According to the investigation report, the driver of Akbar Express was driving the train at a very fast speed, causing it to lose control and crash into the freight train.
Apart from this incident, accidents are regularly happening due to the poor maintenance of the rail infrastructure. The onus of this negligence lies with the authorities in charge of the railways, particularly the Minister for Railways.
Following Thursday’s crash, Sheikh Rashid announced that the families of those who passed away in the accident will be compensated with Rs1.5 million, and the injured will be given Rs0.5 million.
However, given the inflation, the wounded should be given more as compensation to ensure they receive quality treatment and are also able to bear their other expenditures. Furthermore, an accident occurred with the Jinnah Express passenger train a little less than a month ago.
The train also collided with a stationary freight train near Hyderabad. The accident resulted in the death of six people including the driver and his assistant.
According to a report, the Railway Ministry had recently told the National Assembly that it had finished investigations of almost 80% of this year’s accidents.
However, recent accidents and the consequential losses tell a different tale. The Prime Minister and relevant authorities are requested to conduct thorough and transparent investigations and fix the railways before the people suffer further.
Muna Manzoor
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2019.
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