Shalimar Express derails again

LAHORE:

The Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derailed once again on Friday, just two days after a similar incident near Shahdadpur, raising fresh concerns over railway safety.

According to railway officials, one coach of the train went off the track between Farooqabad and Sheikhupura at around 9:40am. No immediate reports of casualties or injuries were received.

A relief train was dispatched from Lahore shortly after the incident, and officials said the rescue and restoration operation was expected to be completed after 12pm. Railway authorities have launched efforts to clear the track and restore train operations in the affected section.

Four air-conditioned parlour coaches of the Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derailed near Shahdadpur railway station on Wednesday, disrupting train operations on both up and down tracks. However, no casualties were reported.

Railway officials said coaches numbered 4, 5, 6 and 7 went off the track when the train was being diverted to a loop line due to a faulty Awami Express on the main track at the station.

They added that the Shalimar Express was moving at a very slow speed while entering the loop line, which helped prevent a major accident and saved passengers from injury.

Earlier, the Karachi-to-Islamabad Green Line Express derailed near Wazirabad on March 27 while exiting the station. Initial findings suggested the derailment was caused by broken coach buffers.

This was the third train accident to occur in the last ten days of the previous month—a development some officials attribute to negligence by Pakistan Railways authorities.

On March 26, the Karachi-to-Lahore 41-Up Karakoram Express met with an accident near Khanewal Junction when the train split into two sections. On March 24, the Tezgam Express also derailed near Lodhran. However, railway teams later restored the track and the train resumed its journey.

A joint investigation report later identified that the derailment occurred due to a technical fault in one of the train's bogies, which was found to be unfit.