Railway accident: Dadu canal breach derails six coaches

Injured given first aid at Madeji hospital then shifted to Civil Hospital Shikarpur

SUKKUR: Six coaches of a Quetta-bound Bolan Mail derailed between the Madeji and Ruk railway stations in Shikarpur district on Tuesday. No fatalities were reported, but eight injured people were shifted to Civil Hospital, Shikarpur.

The breach occurred in the Dadu canal near RD-96 on Monday night and water flowed alongside the railway track, washing away the foundation of the track. When the Bolan Mail reached the spot, putting pressure on the track, six coaches derailed, injuring eight passengers.

The irrigation and railway authorities rushed to the spot along with a large contingent of police to start rescue operations. The injured were first shifted to Madeji hospital and after receiving first aid, were sent to Civil Hospital, Shikarpur for further treatment. The Sukkur divisional superintendent railways, Farukh Taimur, told The Express Tribune that the foundation of the railway track had washed away due to the strong current of water flowing from the breach of the Dadu canal near Allah Dadani railway station and when the train passed through it, the track gave way.

He said that 550 passengers were on board the train and all of them were safe except for the eight injured passengers. Taimur said only two trains, the Bolan Mail and the Khushal Khan Khattak Express, pass through this route and they have diverted rail traffic between Quetta and other areas through Jacobabad and Sukkur. He added that the irrigation officials will first fill earth and stone under the railway track to start restoring the 200 to 300 foot portion of the railway track which has been damaged.

The relevant irrigation officials were not available for comments. An official said that the breach in the Dadu canal had occurred at RD-96 and despite timely information, the irrigation officials failed to reach the spot resulting in the foundation of the track washing away.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2015.