Lodhran tragedy: Families of train crash victims to get Rs1.5m each

Railways minister says those responsible for the accident would be taken to task

BAHAWALPUR: The Pakistan Railways announced compensation for the family of the victims of the train crash that took place in Lodhran on Friday.

Six children and two men were killed while another seven were injured when a passenger train slammed into a motorised rickshaw near Adman Wahan railway station in Lodhran district.

Talking to the media, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq said each family of the dead will be paid Rs1.5 million by the Pakistan Railways while Rs300,000 will be given to the injured people.

The minister visited the injured children at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s Neurosurgery Ward and inquired about the medical facilities being provided to them. He also expressed his grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in train accident.

In replying to a question, Saad said people responsible for the incident would be taken to task. He added efforts were being made to improve the capacity and ability of railways’ human resources.

“Investigation is underway and the gatekeeper and drivers are in police custody,” he said.

MPA Khalid Mehmood Jajja, Fauzia Ayub Qureshi, Bahawalpur Waste Management Company Chairman Sami Ullah Chaudhry, Bahawalpur Commissioner  Saqib Zafar and others were also present on the occasion.

Reconstruction of Bahawalpur railway station

The building of the Bahawalpur railway station is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs280 million, he said, adding the project is scheduled to be completed by December 2017.

The work on the project started at least seven months ago.

He added that under the comprehensive plan, the Pakistan Railways is upgrading major railways station across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2017.