Inquiry needed: Victims to receive compensation

Murad Ali Shah announces that his government will bear all the expenses of the train victims

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced Rs0.5 million in compensation for those killed and Rs0.2 million for those injured in the train accident in Landhi on Thursday.

"We have recently announced insurance for travellers, so Rs0.1 million will also be given to those families who lost their loved ones in the incident," said the CM while speaking to the media after visiting the train accident victims.

Expressing sorrow over the incident, he said, "I don't want to blame anyone but I am requesting the concerned ministry to make improvements in the railways, especially in its traffic system".

According to the chief minister, he deliberately avoided reaching the hospital early because he did not want to disturb the doctors and paramedical staff. He announced that his government will bear all the expenses of the train victims, adding that it will also transport the victims' bodies back to their hometowns.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also avoided playing the blame game. "Instead of blaming the concerned minister or federal government, we should hold accountable the officials found negligent," he said. He spoke to the media after visiting the victims at Jinnah hospital. "Railway accidents can be averted with better management of signal systems and technical coordination," he said. "These kinds of tragedies or disasters occur in the world, so we should avoid doing politics on them." He said that the federal and provincial governments should jointly come out to provide relief to the victims.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2016.