Hazara Express escapes disaster
photo: file
The Hazara Express heading to Hevelian from Karachi escaped a grave disaster which could have resulted in loss of many lives.
Passengers on board one of the coaches in the train raised an alarm when they noticed that its floor was cracking.
Some ran from bogie to bogie to catch hold of the conductor guard, the top official of a train during the journey.
Finally, the locomotive was stopped at Bholari Railway Station in Thatta district about 152 kilometres away from Karachi.
On inspection it transpired that the floor of coach was broken due to rust near its door, and if the journey had continued, the coach could have completely broken apart.
Snapping from middle during journey, it could have caused the whole train to derail causing a horrible accident and many casualties.
A spokesperson for Pakistan Railways stated that there were no casualties or damage to property in the incident. He claimed that the driver had stopped the train for inspection due to a pressure leak.
Either way, it was clear that railways had put on tracks a rusted coach which could have caused loss of human lives.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2023.