Upcountry rains disrupt train service in Karachi

Published August 24, 2022
After cancellation and delay of many trains due to heavy rains and damages to railway tracks in the country, the Cantonment Railway Station wears a deserted look on Tuesday as mostly those passengers are present at the station, who face an urgent need for travel. —Shakeel Adil / White Star
After cancellation and delay of many trains due to heavy rains and damages to railway tracks in the country, the Cantonment Railway Station wears a deserted look on Tuesday as mostly those passengers are present at the station, who face an urgent need for travel. —Shakeel Adil / White Star

KARACHI: Passengers looking to travel by train have to wait at railway stations in the city for hours until they could board a train on Tuesday.

Due to heavy rains in the entire country, which has resulted in damage of several railways tracks especially in rural parts of Sindh, many trains that were to depart from Karachi were delayed or cancelled altogether because of which the trains that were running had to carry the passengers of the cancelled trains.

This has been going on for the past several days but on Tuesday, the railway stations of the city wore a deserted look, like a ghost town, with very few trains leaving and hardly any activity.

The people with their luggage along with packed food just sat waiting on the platform benches hoping for things to improve. Normally, when trains are delayed, there is a huge crowd seen waiting on the platforms or lining up at the information desks. But this time most of the people having lost hope of travelling by train in bad weather had left for home or gone looking for alternate transportation.

Many didn’t even feel safe travelling by train so decided to book bus rides or just give up their travel plans until things improved. Only those who really needed to travel in an emergency were seen waiting for their trains.

According to Pakistan Railways, the trains that were delayed included the Zakaria Express, Khyber Mail, Sukkur Express.

Meanwhile, Karakorum Express, Karachi Express, Tezgam, Bolan Mail and Pakistan Express were the trains that had to be cancelled altogether.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...