Nine wagons of goods train derail in Pakistan
By Saad Mansoor - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

KARACHI: Railway traffic between Karachi and the upcountry came to a halt when nine bogies of a goods train derailed at the bridge over Malir river bed followed by a blast at around 11.30 on Sunday.

In fact, the railway passengers of Chenab Express originated from Karachi and Tezgam Express coming from Peshawar narrowly escaped from a big disaster, as the Chenab had passed just a few minutes earlier of the incident occurred while Tezgam was stopped at Landhi soon after the word spread about the incident.

An act of sabotage cannot be ruled out behind the incident because according to eye-witness account they heard the bang of a strong blast at the time of the incident.

The incoming trains from up country have been terminated at Landhi Railway Station from where the passengers are taking buses to reach their destinations in the city.

Stop Gap Arrangements

The Railway authorities have also made stop gap arrangements to originate trains from Landhi station for the up country.

Passengers have been requested either to reach directly at Landhi station or those who had already reached Cantt Station were taken in buses to Landhi station to catch their trains for the upcountry.

The rail communication was however completely disrupted and the restoration work might take at least 6-8 hours.

Rescue Trains

Rescue trains one from Cantt Karachi and another from Kotri Junction have already rushed to the spot to carry out restoration work of the damaged track.

Though the authorities concerned have not yet categorically identified the causes for the incident there were two versions, first is the use of some explosive device while other view was that bolts of track were loosened.

A complete probe and inquiry into the causes of the incident has however been ordered by the authority concerned.

People were of the view that long range cameras are needed to be installed at sensitive places to have a strong vigil over the act of incidents especially on the railway track to avoid railway accidents.

It may be mentioned that a large majority of the commuters preferred to travel through buses instead of railways due to fear of accidents especially after the Ghotki accident last month.

A constable on-board the last compartment of Super Special goods train was injured and eight bogies of the train derailed near Malir Bridge here Sunday, police said.

The injured constable has been shifted to railways hospital for treatment. The eight derailed bogies have been badly damaged, according to information from the site, police said.

Six wagons of Lahore-bound Parcel Express derailed and capsized on down track while the train was passing over Malir River Bridge. Divisional Superintendent Railways Junaid Qureshi told newsmen that the bridge is intact but six rails of Up track were damaged.

The CCPO Karachi Tariq Jamil told newsmen at Governor House that evidence of explosion at the site is being verified.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told newsmen during the course of his press conference at Governor House Sunday that as reported to him it was a minor explosion which did not cause any casualty except that some wagons of a passing goods train derailed.●