Track damage annoys passengers

Railway track near Jhampir was affected by heavy rains leading to unusual delays

KARACHI:

Pakistan Railways has announced it will run three additional special trains to compensate for the Jhampir track breakdown, which has disrupted the travel plans of many passengers.

Each year hundreds and thousands of people head to their hometowns to celebrate to celebrate Eidul Azha. Owing to rush, people mostly make advance bookings.

The railway track near Jhampir was affected by heavy rains on July 5 due to which the arrival and departure of trains was unusually delayed and the passengers faced severe problems. Hundreds of them waited for their train at the station overnight.

Station officials also failed to provide basic services to passengers, claimed many of the affected. Passengers said they were not provided with basic facilities including clean and cold drinking water at the station. In addition, intermittent rains added to their difficulties.

A large number of men, women and children were forced to wait for their trains on the floor which they covered with mats or any other suitable cloth they could find.

Out of sheer helplessness and compulsion, the desperate passengers attempted to contact railway authorities, but claimed there was no cooperation forthcoming from station officials. The majority of travelers go to their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones.

According to the spokesperson of the railways, the movement of trains is being delayed due to the breakdown of the Jhampir track. New expected times for trains departing from Karachi have been released.

Pakistan Railways also apologized for the inconvenience caused to the passengers. It announced running three additional special trains for Eidul Azha.

The first special Eid train will leave for Quetta at 10 am on July 8 and reach Peshawar via Multan, Sahiwal and Lahore. The second train will leave Karachi on July 8 at 6.45 pm and will reach Lahore via Multan and Faisalabad. The third train will leave Lahore at 11:30 am on July 13 and arrive at Karachi via Faisalabad and Multan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2022.