Karachi-bound train derails near Shahdara

LAHORE:Three coaches of Karachi-bound Shalimar Express derailed near Shahdara on Friday morning. Three coaches of the Shalimar Express derailed near Shahdara as the train was travelling from Lahore to Karachi. According to sources, the accident caused the closure of the up-and-down track, disrupting the schedules of trains travelling from Lahore to Faisalabad.

Following the accident, train operations on the track were suspended and passengers of the affected train were shifted to another train to continue their journey. According to a Pakistan Railways spokesperson, passengers from seven bogies will be rerouted via Sheikhupura and Sangla Hill to Wazirabad, while those from eight bogies will travel via Lahore and Sahiwal to Khanewal. The spokesperson added that the Shalimar Express would be reassembled at Khanewal Railway Station before resuming its journey to Karachi.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways CEO Amir Ali Baloch stated that there would be no compromise on passenger safety. He said that a senior committee has been formed to determine the causes of the derailment. The committee comprised of the Deputy Chief Engineer (Bridges), Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer (Carriages), and Deputy COP (Safety), will submit a detailed report next week, based on which strict action will be taken against those found responsible. The CEO emphasised that Pakistan Railways remained one of the safest modes of travel. Over the past two years, significant safety measures have been implemented, leading to a considerable reduction in derailment incidents. As a result, 42.5 million passengers trusted Pakistan Railways for their journeys in 2024.

He highlighted that the inspections of railway tracks are conducted regularly and engineering restrictions are imposed wherever weaknesses are detected to ensure passenger safety. Currently, 13 projects are underway in the Sukkur-Rohri section to improve track conditions, while similar improvement projects are in progress across other divisions. With the launch of the ML-1 project, engineering restrictions will be reduced significantly.

It is noteworthy that the restoration operations commenced immediately after the derailment, and the up and down tracks were cleared within three hours. At present, all trains across the country are operating as per schedule.