Pakistan

18 dead as train carrying military troops falls into canal near Gujranwala

Funeral prayers for Major Adil were offered in Lahore in the presence of senior army officials

Agencies July 02, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

GUJRANWALA: At least 18 people, including a senior army officer and the driver of the train were killed when rail carriages full of soldiers and military hardware fell into a canal in Gujranwala on Thursday following the partial collapse of a bridge.

The accident occurred near the eastern town of Wazirabad in Punjab as it headed to the garrison town of Kharian. A search for five missing people continued late into the night, of which four have been found.

Officials gather near bogies of the train as they search for five missing people. PHOTO: AFP

Search operation continues

Search operation for the missing persons resumed early Friday morning following the funeral prayers for the deceased in Multan and Lahore respectively. DG ISPR Asim Bajwa confirmed in his tweet.

Train Accident Update:Total bodies recovered till now 17.Search continues
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) July 3, 2015

Lieutenant General Ghayoor Muhammad has also reached the site and Pak Army's investigative team has started collecting evidence.

A statement issued by the military said four carriages derailed as the train crossed Chanawan Bridge.

DG ISPR Asim Bajwa tweeted that eight bodies, including "Lieutenant Colonel Amir", the commander of a unit, had so far been recovered.

Update:Initial investigation,Railway Bridge collapsed.shaheed confirmed 12 including Comd of unit,Lt.col Amir.8 bodies found.Rescue contnues
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) July 2, 2015

Rescue workers rescue a passenger from a stream. PHOTO: AFP

"Almost 200 people were travelling on the train," said SSP Waqas Nazir, adding that the canal has been closed to carryout the rescue operation.

Read: Mass transport: Over 100 injured as train derails near Rajanpur

"There were around 300 passengers on board," Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique told Reuters.

"It is too early to say about the reason for the mishap. Rescue work is under way."

Defending the infrastructure, Rafique said "This bridge was inspected in December and January and it had no issues," hinting that there could be some other hand or reason involved.

"Apparently it could be due to a blast or deliberate loosening of the fishplates," he said, adding that a heavier train had crossed the same bridge just an hour before the ill-fated train without any problem.

Rafique has ordered a four-member committee to be formed to investigate the cause of the accident within the next 72 hours.

As many as 80 people had been rescued, a military official said.

Television images of the scene showed several carriages partly submerged in the canal.

An army helicopter takes part in a rescue operation after train compartments fell into a canal following the partial collapse of a bridge in Wazirabad, Punjab. PHOTO: AFP

However, a senior military official said the army suspected sabotage.

"We suspect that this was an act of sabotage... The planks on the rail were tampered with," the official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The collapse also raises concerns about the safety of infrastructure. Several TV channels reported that the bridge had been marked as "extremely dangerous".

Train derails over canal near Gujranwala...many feared dead pic.twitter.com/YuYxJ2GEsI
— TruthStrikes (@Flyingtastic) July 2, 2015

Funeral prayers

Funeral prayers for the deceased were offered in Gujranwala late on Thursday evening. Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif also attended the prayers.

Further, General Raheel Sharif also visited the CMH Gujranwala and inquired about the health of those injured.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers for Major Adil were offered at 9:30am in Lahore's Cavalry ground. Senior army officers including Corps Commander Major General Naveed Zaman also attended the prayers to pay respect to the deceased.

AN EXPRESS NEWS SCREENGRAB

Guard of honour was also presented to the deceased.

Later on, funeral prayers were also offered on Friday for Lieutenant Col Amir Jadoon and his wife and two children in Abottabad, who were travelling in the ill fated train.

Lieutenant Col Amir was the eldest among his five siblings. His two brothers are serving Majors in the Army while another brother is serving in the Pakistan Air Force. His sister is settled in the US.

Amir’s father Col (retd) Sabir Jadoon had passed away a couple of year ago. Hi maternal uncle is DIG Police (retd) Sarfraz Khan Jadoon.

Read: Accident: Four die, five injured as train derails

PM takes notice

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concerns for those injured in the accident.

He directed the authorities concerned to mobilise all resources to rescue the injured and restore the track.

Further, the premier directed medical aid to be given to the injured and assure safe return to their destinations.

Investigation team constituted

An investigation team has been constituted consisting of members of the Pakistan Army as well as people from the Railways Ministry.

The team was constituted under the guidance of Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and aims to produce a report probing into the accident.

The team will consist of seven people and is expected to produce the report by tomorrow (Saturday).

COMMENTS (23)

khurram shahzad | 9 years ago | Reply sudden death of pakistan army soliders is a loss of pakistani nation.so keep in hand tolerance and be united.my feelings are so sad for them and have a great pray for them

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply To all the trolls and cult worshiping knuckleheads of Deen-e-Imran: Pakistan isn't the first country since the dawn of ice age where a train has not met with an accident.

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Kickass | 9 years ago | Reply @Humza: You insult this name. Change it to another that also starts with H. You are blinded for the love of Mians due to your brought up.

Kickass | 9 years ago | Reply @Israr: Damn right you are Israr. This Ch Daad is mentally disabled. He works at Modal Town or Raiwind property.

Mustansar Billah | 9 years ago | Reply A tribute to the Commanding Officer who died along his troops. May Allah, the Almighty bless the departed souls and give strength of patience to the grieved families.

Mustansar Billah | 9 years ago | Reply @Disgusting: Its really disgusting that your are protecting enemies and possess so much hatred against your own government. You seem to be a fifth columnist instigating hatred against the democratically elected government. It was a sad incidents, and army being the department of the government when suffers any loss it is the loss of the government. Those people are likely to be against Pakistan Army who were waiting for a takeover last August but were miserably disappointed.

jamil | 9 years ago | Reply No one to be blamed but the people responsible for the maintenance of the tracks and operation of railway.

WideEyes | 9 years ago | Reply The ONLY way to get rid of RAW from Pakistan is to cook everything before eating.

SEAsian | 9 years ago | Reply RAW is WAR.

Ih | 9 years ago | Reply Coas in cmh in gujranwala. Prime minister does not get it. Which make believe word is he living in? Political leaders in Pakistan are so removed from reality. Any country in the West Prime minister will be rushing to hospital.

rajabsathio | 9 years ago | Reply "It is too early to say about the reason for the mishap",Khawaja Saad Rafique told Reuters. Khuwaja saad must put this whole blame on British government that they did not make this bridge strong enough to take load of train carrying military equipment or He might say that military equipment carrying train was over loaded that caused accident.....If such case happened in any foreign country that minister would have resigned before the inquiry but our politicians will never resign whenever this happened due to their negligence .

NO Excuses? | 9 years ago | Reply In history it habitually blames others for own faults and failure is no excuse. It’s the worst failure of the system; institution and ignorance don’t blames other as usual be honest and mature. Whenever Pakistan institutions, govt. and people honestly consider themselves responsible for every own faults and self created issues then the true improvement could possibly start.

Brar | 9 years ago | Reply @Timorlane: Sorry for the loss of precious lives, but I am pained to read you comments. All these bridges in India and Pakistan were built by the Britishers more than 100 years ago when they brought the Railways to this region and our Govts failed to replace the bridges which have out lived their lives. Alledging any one without any evidence is not good, let the inquiry be competed and if there are any proof against RAW show it to the whole world, your Govt failed show any concrete proof other than allegations.

Motiwala | 9 years ago | Reply @Humza: You are beating the Raja of Raiwind's drums. Hold them close to your chest your chest as you do so. Your family members and you MUST be benefiting from the Sharif Cabal in Punjabistan, for you to write this frivolous comment. NO financial institutions, [unless run by Finance Minister Dollar Dar] OR the Economist are falling over themselves commenting on the improving Pak economy. NONE. Whatsoever. Wells Fargo, Citi, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, HSBC Banks, Capital One. have nothing to say about the Pak economy. You are inventing facts.

Baba Ji | 9 years ago | Reply Very sad indeed ... main reason is the dilapidated condition of the bridge which could not take the load of the train carrying military equipment .... simple .... NOW, the moment Zaid Hamid has been nabbed in Saudia, neighboring country has started its operations !!!!!

bahaha | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Ch. Saab this country has become a silly joke. Any country that pretends to run a modern state without a proper railway has got be a joke. Just look at the google map of Moghalpura and see the enormous area devoted to railway yards and this is when Lahore was only 10% the size of today. Now see your priorities Even DHA houses are more than the rail-yards.

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply @Disgusting: Shameful that you would this incident to score political points. We all know that infrastructure throughout the country needs to be renovated and improved - Pakistan railways and its bridges are no exception. The facts that the Economist magazine and New York financial institutions all agree that Pakistan's economy is improving seems to be what really bothers you instead of the sad death of the servicemen during the month of Ramadan.

Israr | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Do you think I am joking? You are blinded by your love for the Sharifs. Otherwise, you will see my practical suggestion extremely useful. If you really think I was joking then compare the number of rail bridges upgraded by this government with the number of new/upgraded road bridges. Accidents can happen anywhere but what happens AFTER such accidents all over the world is very, very different from what happens in Sharifistan.

Hasan | 9 years ago | Reply Rip! Saad rafique must be held responsible and should resign but according to our political traditions he won't!

Disgusting | 9 years ago | Reply This is not RAW. This is the protection of terrorists by PML N and its dislike for the Uniform. Add to this the criminal incompetence of a minister who is a fraud to the core. This is also a reflection on a corrupt govt in Islamabad and Lahore. The train was destroyed in Punjab just before reaching its destination Kharian. Nawaz Sharif through his manipulations saved Saad Rafique who does not deserve to be a minister but since he is the household man like Khawaja Asif he is still a minister. The bridge had outlived its life.

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply Feeling sad for the loss of most precious lives. @ Israr, This is a moment of sadness, not a moment for silly jokes.

Israr | 9 years ago | Reply I feel sorry for the deceased and the injured. Maintenance of road and railway has never been a priority in Pakistan. We only wait for structures to collapse so that new ones could be built. Also, this is a busy route so hopefully the bridge will be constructed very soon. One way (perhaps the olny way) to ensure a speedy construction is to feed a bit of misinfo to Shahbaz Sharif by telling him a new road bridge, not railway bridge, is required.

Timorlane | 9 years ago | Reply RAW seems to be spreading its operations in Pakistan it's encouraged by the continuous silence of india's man in Pakistan's prime minister house over india's sponsored terrorism in Pakistan

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