Nine killed, over 100 injured by Rail mishap in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Punjab Bureau Report

LAHORE: At least nine people were killed and 110 others injured when a Narowal-bound overcrowded passenger train derailed near Ferozewala on Saturday.

Deputy Chief Controller Muhammad Sharif said that the Fast Passenger Train 211 left Lahore Railway Station at 5:30 pm as usual and met the accident at 6:30 near Kot Molchin Railway Station due to unknown reasons.

The last bogie of the train derailed and turned turtle causing death of five passengers and injuries to 20 others. Meanwhile, rescue workers rushed to the spot and took the injured to the Mayo Hospital and other hospitals of the City, he added.

Sharif said that among the injured, the condition of five was stated to be critical and those with minor injuries were allowed to go home after first aid.

The Killed

Those killed in the accident were identified as Nazir, Umar Hayat, Ghouri, Zahida besides an unidentified man.

The railways officer said it was Saturday and weekend so the factor of overcrowding could not be ignored because most of the people travel for their home district on this day.

The reasons behind the accident would be established through a proper inquiry. However, an eight-year-old child, Imran, survived miraculously.

Perspective

An earlier report said five passengers were killed when the last bogey of a Narowal-bound train derailed near Babakwal Railway Station in Ferozewala tehsil on Saturday.

The train left Lahore Railway Station at 5.30pm and the last bogey derailed near Babakwal Railway Station at 6.35pm.

About 60 passengers were travelling in the last bogey out of which five were killed and 20 were injured, 10 of them seriously, he added.

The injured were taken to Mayo Hospital, he said, adding that Railways officials and medical teams got to the scene and started the rescue operation. They provided first aid to the injured, he said.

Of the Causalities

However, the actual number of causalities could not be known because of the darkness, he said by adding that the death toll could also increase.

Lahore-Narowal rail traffic was suspended and a Railways crane was at the scene working to remove the bogey from the tracks. Railways Minister Shamim Haider said an enquiry committee had been set up to inquire into the incident and report to him within three days.●