Ghotki Rail Crash toll hits 135 in Pakistan
By Raheel Junejo - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

GHOTKI: Death toll of the train collision at the Sarhad railway station was rose to 135 as four more bodies were recovered, while 140 people were injured in the tragic incident.

President Musharraf has directed the authorities to complete the accident probe within two days.

The driver of 16 Down Karachi Express, coming from Lahore, misread a signal and ploughed into the stationary 24 Down Quetta Express, (on way to Quetta from Rawalpindi) at Sarhad station between Mirpur Mathelo and Ghotki.

The wreckage of the two trains had blocked the up-track. Then the Rawalpindi-bound 7 Up Tezgam, coming from Karachi, slammed head-on into the wreckage around 3:30 am, railway officials said. Thirteen bogies of the Tezgam were also derailed in the crash.

46 dead bodies identified

Pakistan Railways authorities have handed over 46 bodies to the families of deceased after their identification.

The names of the dead identified are given below:

Najma Bibi w/o Mohammed Ibrahim (Gulshan Iqbal, Karachi), Mehrunnisa w/o Abdul Ghafoor (Malir, Karachi), Waris Maseeh (Karachi), Zaheen Khan (Karachi), Kanwal w/o Rizwan (Karachi), Farid Qamar s/o Sher Zaman (Karachi), Ghulam Murtaza (Karachi), Shumaila d/o Meharban Khan (Rawalpindi), Phool Pari d/o Allah Bakhsh (Ghotki), Shyam Pal s/o Pahlaj Ram (Ghotki), Arif Shah s/o Majeed Shah (Plant Operator, Pakistan Railway, Quetta), Dilbar s/o Rustam Khan (Railway Colony, Quetta), Hameeda Sultana w/o Saeed Mehmood (Quetta), Aftab Ahmed s/o Nazeer Ahmed (Kharian), Abdul Sattar s/o Mohammed Yousuf (Kharian), Raja Tanveer (Kharian), Abdul Rauf (Mian Channu), Irshad Ahmed s/o Murtaza (Sahiwal), Niaz Ahmed (Chak 5/58 Sahiwal), Ratan Chand (Jacobabad), Zulfiqar Ali (Employee Pakistan Air Force, Gojranwala), Habib Shah s/o Noor Mohammed Shah (Bahawalpur), Naseem Bibi w/o Shaukat Ali (Wazirabad), Ghulam Mohammed (Driver, 24 Down Train, Khaniwal headquarter), Noor Hussain (25 Down Train, Foreman, Khaniwal headquarter), Mohammed Latif s/o Mohammed Nazeer (Kot Radha Kishan), Mohammed Iqbal s/o Musa (Islamnagar, Bahawalpur), Bhola Khan s/o Shah Mohamamed (Gujrat), Mohammed Khan s/o Noor Mohammed (Tala Gang Chakwal), Noor Mohammed s/o Mohammed Ramzan (Mianwali), Haseena (Hyderabad), Cheetan Das (Mehrabpur), Tahir Javed (Mian Channu), Mubashir (Sargodha), Mohammed Fayyaz s/o Hamid (Bahawlpur), Sundus Riaz d/o Riaz Ahmed (Gujrat), Ghazanfar Ali s/o Mohammed Rafiq (Gujrat), Munir Ahmed s/o Sono Kaladi, Munawwar Hussain, Naseem Akhtar, Irshad s/o Boota Mahar, Mrs. Gulbahar, Mohammed Dildar s/o Rustam Khan, Abid Hussain s/o Mohammed Anwar, Faisal Riaz and Fazal Hussain s/o Noor Hussain.

List of the Injured

Pakistan Railways has issued a complete list of those injured in Wednesday's tragic train accident at Sarhad Railway Station near Ghotki.

Names of the injured with their addresses and nature of injuries are;

- Rustam aged 40 years r/o District Kasur, Tehsil Pattoki, deeply injured shifted to GHK hospital.

- Qaisar Abbas aged 50 years Multiple injuries, discharged.

- Fayyaz aged 25 years R/O HYD Arm broken. Referred to GHK.

- Fazal Hussain aged 40 years, Multiple injuries, Discharged after treatment

- Muhammad Anwar r/o Shikarpur aged 50 years, Multiple injuries, Discharged after treatment

- Sardar Khan s/o Buggo Khan, R/O Azas Kashmir aged 50 years, Multiple injuries, Discharged

- Khalid ahmad aged 20 years R/O Mumtazabad, Multan, Multiple injuries, discharged.

- Raja Ahmed R/O Multan Mumtazabad, Small Multiple injuries, discharged.

- Muhammad Din Bhatti S/O Eidoo Bhatti, R/O Abbaspur, Azad Kashmir, Right hand little finger damaged and Multiple injuries, Admitted in Sarhad hospital.

- Syed Ghulam S/O Baggoo Dist, & Tehsil Mahansera (ASI) I.B Incharge, Quetta, aged 40 Years, Admitted.

- Arshad S/O Zahir Hussain, aged 25 Years near Bahawalpur Station, Slightly back side injuries, Admitted.

- Mst, Razia Begum W/O Mr Bashir caste Dahnwal, R/O Village Chawinds, Fractured left Leg. Admitted.

- Hawaldar Shabbir Ahmad S/O Muhammad Khan caste Awan Distt, Khushab, Port, Quetta, Government documents No,70. Mob, 0300/38888392 Ph, 0454/610640, Ex Multan to Quetta Injures, shifted to GHK hospital.

- Nazir S/o Abdul Razzak Caste Kanwa, Tehsil and District Jhang Post Office Makoki ex. Karachi to Jhang by 7-up, Injures, Shifted to GHK hospital.

- Khuram S/o Shoukat, Caste, Mehnas residence Wazirabad , (Mother of Naseem Akhtar.

- Khalid Khan Soldier, R/o Tehsil Abbottabad, Village Sakki Kalam (Punjab),CMH/Panu Aqil.

- Muhammad Siddique R/o Abbottabad, CMH/Panu Aqil.

- Muhammad Saeed R/o Abbottabad, CMH/Panu Aqil.

- Tufail Shah R/o Disstt, Sahiwal, Chicha Watni Road, aged 54 Years, Travelling in Coach No.13 of Quetta Express.

- Mst. Surraya Fatima D/o Muhammad Farooq NIC 42101-9562301 R/o House No.N-616, Sector 5/J North Karachi, Karachi East

- Muhammad Younus S/o Muhammad Iqbal Lodhran, Tehsil Distt, Bahawalpur Village Islam Nagar Dangar Mandi Bahawalpur, travelling by 24 DN Quetta Express (BWPR-QTA)

- Riaz Ahmed S/o Tasswwir Khan Caste Bawli R/o Chowk Shah Haddi Bahawalpur. Travelling by 24 DN Quetta Express (BWPR-QTA).

- Kamran s/o Muhammad Mubarik Hussain, Caste Bihari R/o Aurangi Town Karachi, travelling in 7 UP Tezgam (KC-LHR).

- Arsalan Sami Khan S/o Sami uddin Khan, Caste Mahajir R/o 35/2-L Liaquat Avenue Model Town Karachi.Travelling in 7 UP Tezgam (KC-RWP).

- Ahsan Ahmed Khan S/o Shafiuulah Khan Caste Mahajir R/o Gulshn-e-Iqbal Karachi. Travelling in 7 UP Tezgam (KC-RWP).

- Najeeb ullah S/o Ghani Jan R/o Mandi, Distt Karak. Travelling in 24 DN Quetta Express (RWP-QTA).

- Zulifiqar Ali S/o Abdul Latif R/o Railway Colony, Karachi Cantt (Father is Carpenter in Railways).

- Ibrar S/o M Javed Caste Mughal R/o Navy Colony Karachi. Travelling in 7 UP Tezgam(KC-JMR).

- Aslam S/o Habibullah Caste Khokhar.Travelling in 24 DN Quetta Express (BWPR-QTA)

- Rizwan S/o Abdul I. Qayyum Caste Mahajir R/o New Karachi. Travelling in 7 UP Tezgam (KC-RWP)

- Tufail Muhammad S/o Imam Din. Caste Jat/Quetta Phone .No. 081/672716 Zarghoona Abad, Israr-Ul-Haq Sector/Quetta.

- Abdul Qadir S/O. Abdul Haq Caste Siddiqui, Resident of Mumtaz Abad Ph. 061/580592 Ph.No 061/2443897

- Zia-u-din S/O Saraf Zar Caste Jat, Redident of Kamlya Distt. Toba Tek Sing City Ph.3883164.

- Zahoor Ahmed S/O Ghulam Akbar Caste Sehte, Mian Chanoo Ph.2514.

- Munir Ahmed S/O Wahid Bux Kandra Ph. 071/5001076

- Iqbal S/O Muhamamd Khan Caste Balouch.

- Kamran S/O Fazal Mob:- 0300-55241244

- Mrs. Hameed Tubsim Wife of Waseem Akhtar.

- Lady Mumtaz wife of Dr Jamil Mehar.

- Zubair S/O Dr. Jamil Ahmed.

- Kamal Din S/o Haji Muhammd yasin Caste Noori Teh.Quetta District Quetta.
- Ajmeer Khan S/O Kamal Din.

- Baby Shabana S/O Kamal Din Quetta.

- Baby Aneela D/O Kamal Din.

- Mrs Sakeena w/o Kamal.

- Mrs. Asiya Javed D/O Haji Mian Muhammad Qureshi resident of Quetta Phone No. 081-664158 with Muhammad Javid S/O Muhammad Yousaf.

- Mrs. Shahid W/O Shahid Perviaz Qureshi Resident of Saddar Karachi Ph. 021-2264673

- Mehar Din S/O Nazir Ahmed Caste Sarhari resident of Orangi Town Karachi Phone.021/6691212.

- Lady Shahzia D/O Ashique Hussain Caste Awan, Residence, Heri Pur Phone .No. 0304-2041269.

- Mrs. Shahida Moosa W/O Muhamamd Farooque Caste Rind resident of Behwalpur District,

- Mrs. Shahnaz wife of Tahir Caste Gondal Mandi Bahwal Din Chack No. 32, Mob:- 0300-70092903.

- Mrs.Noman wife of Muhammad Rais Caste Sheikh, Jamia Cloth / Karachi.

- Master Farman S/O Rizwan resident of Karachi, Sukkur, Akhtar Colony Mob:- 0300-2286846

- Baby Zikrya S/0 Rizwan residence, Karachi, Sukkur Akhtar colony Mob:- 0300-2286846.

- Muhammad Ibrahim S/O Mitha Residence of Dera Ghazi Khan and resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi House Phone No.0300-2691263

- Muhammad Ali S/O Muhammad Ibrahim resident of Dera Ghazi Khan and resident of Ghulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi Mob:- 0300-2691263.

- Kasid S/O Pathan, Mianwali.

- M. Iqbal S/O Imam Bux, Residence of Khanpur Distt.Rahim Yar Khan Phone. 0707/75917.

- Nadir Khan S/o Bhola Khan, Caste Dogar, Resident of Quetta.

- Javed S/O Bashir Ahmed, Resident of Azad Kashmir.

- Miss. Zahida.

- Syed Tufail Khan S/O Ahmed Ali Shah, Resident of Police Station Qazi Abad, Chicha Watani.

- Muhamamd Shahbaz S/O Muhamamd Ishaque Caste Rajpute Distt, SheikhuPura ( Farooqa Abad.)

- Syed Chanaser s/o S. Taswar Ali, Okara, 0441-56607

- Mst. Kanwar Rizwan w/o M. Rizwan NIC-NO 42101-1680141-8, House.No.L-512, Muhallah North, Karachi, Sector-5-A4 East Karachi.

- Habib s/o Aliah Diwayo, Bhawalpur.

- Ahsan s/o Shafi Muhammad , Karachi

- Shabbir Ali s/o Sardar Ahmed, Vehari.

- Nadir Khan s/o Gul Ashor, Village Chokri.

- Kashif Rehan s/o M.Rehan, Karachi.

- Hav.Ahmed Sher s/o Ahmad Khan, Khoshab.

- Razia w/o Mukhtiar Ali, Sahiwal.

- Mukhtiar Ali s/o Sajwal Khan, Sahiwal.

- Imran s/o M.Anwar, Sargodha.

- Latif s/o M.Sharif, Sargodha.

- Tanveer Ali s/o Bashir, Sargodha.

- Abdul Razzaq s/o Nazar Muhammad, Khanewal.

- M. Sharif s/o Iqbal, Sahiwal.

- Zeshan s/o Imran, Karachi.

- Mai Imtiaz w/o Mehrban 30 years, Karachi.

- Mehraban s/o Khan Muhammad, Karachi.

- Zaheer s/o Imran, Karachi.

- Farooque s/o M. Aqil, Peshawar.

- Iftikharul Hassan s/o Imran, Peshawar.

- Fayaz Ahmed s/o Faiz Rasool, Multan.

- Sultan s/o Nazir Ahmed, Toba Tek Singh.

- Mukhtiar Ahmed s/o Wali Muhammad, Mutan.

- Imran s/o Nadeem, Multan

- M Nawaz s/o Khurram Nawaz, Multan.

- Nazneen w/o M.Rais, Karachi.

- Shazia w/o Tahir Qadir, Mandi Bahawuddin.

- Kamaluddin s/o Haji Sattar, Quetta.

- Safdar s/o M. Razzaq, Jhang.

- Khidmatullah, Quetta.

- Syed Muhammad Nawaz,

- Haseena w/o Aashiq, Hazara.

- Humera w/o Shahid Pervez, Karachi.

- Arsalan s/o Zameer Khan, Karachi,

- Israr Ahmed s/o Usman, Karachi.

- Luqman s/o A.Sattar, Lahore.

- Qurban Hussain s/o Fareed Hussain, Chakwal.

- Fareed Ahmed s/o Gulab din, Azad Kashmir.

- Kashif Ali s/o Shafqat Hussain,

- Gohar Rehman s/o Muhammad Ghulam, Abbotabad.

- Shah bibi w/o Imran Din, Shekhupura.

- Mai Irshad w/o Imam Din, Shekhupura.

- Mr.Ghulam Rasool s/o Sultan Mehmood, R/O Rawalpindi.

- Javed Sultan s/o Sultan Mehmood, Distt: Attock.

- Abdul Ghafoor s/o Ghous Muhammad, 588-A B/21, Indus Home, Karachi.

- Abdul Jabbar s/o Abdul Majeed, aged 35, New Yard Rohri.

- Muneer Ahmed s/o Gh. Muhammad 33 years, Sindh Regment 22 BWPR.

- Soldier Tarique Javed s/o Gh.Nabi 35 years, Tah: Noor Pur, Khushaab, NIC-NO-38202-12-66-341-5

- Bashir Ahmed s/o Qadir Bux 34 years, Grecer Tah: Nall Khuzdar NIC-NO-51402-0184866-1

- Abdul Majeed s/o Mehmood 33 years, Gracer Tah: Nall Khuzdar, NIC-NO-62780-533878.

- Faheemuddin s/o Hashimuddin, Light House Karachi. Passport No. 042354.

- Arif Masih s/o Lal Masih 33 years, Doda Nawala.

- Arshad Masih s/o Doda Masih, Dist: Gujranwala, NIC-NO-4250612-3898-5.

- Ilyas Masih s/o Yakub Masih 33 years, Kamoke Gujrawala, NIC-NO-42301-7678392-9

- Mai Gul w/o Gul Khan 40 years, Seryab Quetta.

- Ibrahim s/o Gul Khan 5 years, Saryab Quetta.

- Gul Bushra D/O Gul Khan 2 years, Saryab Quetta.

- Asia d/o Syed Mehmood Khalid 10 years, Saryab Quetta.

- Mumtaz Bibi w/o Yar Muhammad Shah 45 years., Shah Hassan Pir, Multan.

- Mst.Ghulam Safee w/o Ghulam Nabi 35 years, Mandi Bahauddin, NIC-NO-22667393629.

- Mst. Sarhad Tabassum d/o Gh. Nabi 6 years, Mandi Bahauddin, NIC-NO-22667393629.

- Naqash Nabi s/o Ghulam Nabi, age 7 years, Madi Bahauddin, NIC-NO-22667393629.

Pak Army evacuates 130 dead, 130 injured

Meanwhile a report says that Pakistan Army evacuated 130 dead and similar number of injured people from the badly damaged rakes of three trains during the resuce operation at Sarhad Railway Station.

Around 70 severely injured people of the triple trains accident were admitted to the Combined Military Hospital Pano Aqil for medical treatment.

The accident occurred at Sarhad Railway Station near Ghotki on Wednesday. After the tragic happening the Pakistan Army was the first to reach the site, which was immediately cordoned off by Army troops for the smooth functioning of rescue operations.

The Army Control Center was established to coordinate the rescue efforts by various organizations and a large number of local volunteers. Army Engineers provided technical support like recovery vehicles, cranes, electric saws to clear the accident site alongwith railway technical team.

Combined Military Hospital at Pano Aqil, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahwalpur, Multan, Malir and Pakistan Naval Hospital Shifa were placed on high alert. Armed Forces Medical Supply Depot at Karachi immediately dispatched emergency first aid medicines, equipment and food items to the accident site.

A large number of casualties were provided medical treatment by the team of Army doctors and para medical staff at the site and seriously injured were evacuated by Army Aviation helicopters.

A Fokker aircraft of Pakistan Navy also participated in the rescue operation and evacuated three persons with serious head injuries to Naval Hospital Shifa Karachi.

Medical Corps of the Pakistan Army also established a Blood Bank and provided the required blood supply to the injured. Pano Aqil Garrison is hosting a large number of relatives of the train affectees.

Around 500 personnel from Pakistan Army and Rangers took part in the rescue operation. Army Aviation's six helicopters and a large number of Ambulances of the Army Medical Corps also took part in the rescue operation.

Inquiry from July-18

Federal Government Inspector of Railways, Saleem ur Rehman Akhund, will hold an enquiry into Wednesday's train accident at Ghotki railway station, on July 18 and subsequently at Divisional Superintendent's Office, Pakistan Railways Sukkur on July 19 and 20.

Pakistan Railways sources said on Thursday that the Inspector of Railways will probe the cause of overshooting/collision of 16-Down (Karachi Express) with 24-Down (Quetta Express) at Sarhad station.

The enquiry will commence at 8.30 a.m. on these days.

Any member of the public having knowledge of the accident and matters connected therewith, and desiring to give evidence, may do so on the above mentioned dates and places, or write to the Federal Government Inspector of Railways, Allama Iqbal Road, Lahore by July-25.

Tezgam arrives Lahore 12 hours late

Tezgam, which met an accident near Ghotki, arrived Lahore 12 hours late and then resumed onwards journey to Rawalpindi. Passengers of Tezgam remained safe in the Ghotki tragedy.

Divisional Superintendent of Karachi Railways Junaid Qureshi said in Karachi that except for the Faisalabad Express, all trains had been leaving the city as per their schedule.

At least four bodies of passengers who died in the Sarhad train disaster, as well as over a dozen injured, were brought to Karachi by Edhi ambulances and a chartered flight late on Wednesday.

Two bodies were handed over to relatives, while two were placed in the Edhi morgue, Rizwan Edhi, a social worker said.

More than 100 ambulances participated in the rescue operation at the site of the accident, he said, adding: "We brought two bodies, identified as Naseema and Najma, residents of Karachi."

Two children of deceased Naseema, a six-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, besides her injured sister and mother were with the body. The children of the deceased woman were assuming as if their mother is sleeping.

Earlier, body of Kawanal Rizwan, 21, a resident of North Karachi, was brought and placed in the Edhi morgue. Rescuers said that, an infant child of this deceased lady was still missing. Another body that was identified as Sofia Ejaz, 38, a resident of Federal B Area, was shifted to Karachi and placed in the Edhi morgue.

The husband of the deceased, Dr Ejaz Aalam Chishti, works at the Chief Minister House as In Charge Complaints Cell. She was mother of five children.

Accident case registered

Police has registered a case in connection with the Ghotki disaster.

SP railway Sukkur Shafi Mohammad Mughal said on Thursday that the case related to the Ghotki disaster has been registered however nobody has been nominated in the case and investigations are underway.

He said that the Pakistan railway has informed that the driver of the Karachi express violated the signal however anything concrete in this regard could only be said after the completion of the investigations. He informed that nothing has been found about the driver and fireman of the Quetta Express. More News

Deadliest Rail Disaster

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