2 injured as passenger train collides with cargo train near Khanpur
Two trains have collided in the Khanpur area of Punjab, according to a statement from Pakistan Railways.
According to a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways, a Shalimar Express train, travelling from Karachi to Lahore collided with Down 502 cargo train at 4:10pm near the Jheeta Bhatta railway station.
The spokesperson added that the train's driver and assistant driver were "mildly injured" in the collision while all the passengers remained safe. He added, however, that two coaches of the cargo train were damaged while the front trolley of Shalimar Express' front engine was derailed.
The end-down track has been "completely blocked" as a result of the collision, the spokesperson said.
The divisional superintendent Multan has left for the location of the accident on the directions of the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Railways Dost Ali Leghari. All divisional officers and rescue officials have also left for the scene of the accident and rescue operations will be completed within three to four hours, the spokesperson added.
The Railways CEO has formed an inquiry committee comprising three senior officers to probe the latest accident involving trains. The body will submit its initial report to the CEO within 48 hours, the spokesperson said.
Following the accident, Leghari ordered the immediate suspension of the Multan divisional transportation officer (DTO) and Multan divisional security commissioner. He also directed officials to take action as per the law against the persons responsible for the accident, according to the statement.
The incident comes a day after a train rammed into a passenger coach at the railway track passing through Sucha Soda, a small town near Farooqabad in Sheikhupura district, killing 22 people including 20 Sikh pilgrims, a driver and his helper.
The tragic incident, when also left nine people injured, took place at a small unmanned level crossing/passage, just about 100 feet away from a manned level crossing at the track.
PAF aircraft carrying bodies of train accident victims lands in Peshawar
Meanwhile, a Pakistan Air Force aircraft carrying the bodies of the 21 Sikh Yatrees and the driver who were killed in yesterday's train accident landed at Peshawar airport on Saturday (today) evening, Radio Pakistan reported.