Lahore to Quetta train service suspended

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Railways has suspended the train service between Sindh and Balochistan for the next two to three days, as rains and flash floods have inundated railway tracks and damaged bridges, officials said on Monday.

“Our tracks and yards have been affected in Sindh and Balochistan due to heavy rains. Therefore, in view of passenger safety, the operation of trains has been cancelled for two to three days,” Farrukh Taimur, the chief operating officer of the Railways said. “If passengers want, they will get full refund of the tickets.”

Officials said that the Railways administration partially suspended train operations between Lahore, Karachi and Quetta. They added that heavy rains caused extensive damage in the Sehwan, Chaman and Larkana sections. The operation has been stopped in these sections until the track was restored, they said.

According to the officials, 11 trains between Lahore and Karachi had also been cancelled as rainwater entered the railway stations and damaged railway bridges on the route. Those included Awam Express, Tezgam, Pakistan Express, Karakoram Express, Sir Sayed Express and Karachi Express.

As make-shift arrangements, the authorities were merging passengers of two trains into one train to transport them on certain sections. The situation has created difficulties for the passengers.