Four buffaloes killed by railway locomotive

Officials urge citizens not to let animals graze near railway tracks

RAWALPINDI:

Four buffaloes were hit and killed by a railway locomotive near Kaliam near the Mandira Railway Station.

The collision resulted in increased pressure, causing the engine to fail and leading to the temporary suspension of traffic on the Lahore-Pindi railway track.

Railway's Chief Traffic Officer, Saqib, said that the locomotive, pulling empty bogies, was travelling from Rawalpindi to Lalamusa when it collided with the buffaloes, causing damage to the engine. As a result of the engine failure on the track, the Lahore-Rawalpindi track was temporarily closed.

Technical teams were dispatched from Rawalpindi to Kaliam to repair the engine, which was subsequently sent to its destination. Due to the railway track closure, Jafar Express was halted near Mandira, subjecting the passengers to significant hardship in the scorching heat.

Railway officials have urged citizens not to allow grazing animals near the railway tracks, as animals crossing the tracks can lead to major accidents. Following the engine maintenance, railway traffic has resumed as normal on the railway track.

Cattle thieves caught

Police arrested three cattle thieves and also confiscated two stolen bulls from their custody on Tuesday.

According to a police spokesman, the airport police held three suspects involved in the cattle theft incident. The arrested suspects were identified as Bilal, Ghulam Nabi and Shehzad.

The other facilitators will also be arrested, SHO added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2023.