Railways suffers Rs11b loss due to devastating floods

LAHORE:

The incessant rains and floods in the country have caused a loss of more than Rs11 billion to the Pakistan Railways including a damage worth Rs8 billion to the bridges and tracks while ticket refunds, diesel and suspension of train operations have cost the department Rs3.5 billion.

According to details, the train service between Quetta and Karachi Divisions is suspended after a railway bridge collapsed due to floods in the region. In the remaining divisions, around seven to eight bridges have been damaged.

Meanwhile, the railway tracks have been damaged due to continuous flow of rainwater due to which the department had to delay its train operation.

Railway tracks in several sections are submerged while the floodwater washed away mud concrete sleepers from underneath the tracks.

The floodwater has caused a loss of Rs11 billion to the basic infrastructure of the railways. Railway bridges and tracks have been destructed to an estimated amount of Rs8 billion while ticket refunds, diesel, administrative affairs and suspension of train operations have cost the department Rs3.5 billion.

The department has deployed technical bridge staff at various sections for the repair of the bridges. The train operation will only be restored after the staff completes the reconstruction work on bridges.

Railways CEO Farrukh Taimur said that the train services cannot be restored unless the bridges and tracks were cleared of the floodwater.