Off track: 30 trains stop running due to engine failure

Railway officials feared riots would break out at several stations.

MULTAN:

A total of 30 trains were stopped from plying the tracks in Southern Punjab on Tuesday. According to railway officials, the severe shortage of working train engines has exacerbated problems in several districts and at least eight trains are currently in need of repair in Multan.

The trains stopped in the Multan division include the Sandal Express, Khanewal Shuttle, Mari Indus Passenger train, Shorkot Passenger train and others. “We had to turn away over 300 people from the train station today and a riot nearly broke out. We said that we would protest with them if the trains weren’t repaired. This is becoming ridiculous because there are hardly any working engines available,” said Shorkot Passenger train driver Altaf.  Railway officials said that the stalling engines had also caused problems for several freight trains plying the tracks in Sargodha and Multan.

“At present there are over 1,700 rail cargo compartments loaded with merchandise that are standing still because the train engines aren’t working,” said railway official Haroon Yasir.

“The situation will get much worse if any of the merchandise is stolen or spoilt, which is likely given that these trains might be standing for days,” he added. Railway officials said that they had appealed to the authorities to release funds to repair the engines as soon as possible. “We are dealing with possible riots everyday,” said a Multan station officer.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2011.