SUKKUR: Three passenger trains were halted at Rohri and Mando Dero stations after three coaches of a goods train derailed at the Pir Murad Shah locality at around 4pm on Saturday.

A relief team carrying technical staff, officials, machinery and equipment rushed to the scene of the incident. It was continuing the work to put the derailed coaches back on tracks till last reports were received from the area in the evening. A cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained. The goods train had originated from Karachi.

In the meantime, the rail traffic on Sukkur-Rohri sector remained suspended for many hours.

Two passenger trains — the Shalimar Express and Awam Express -- which had started their journey from Karachi were halted at the Rohri station and another one — the Hazara Express — destined for Karachi was halted at the Mando Dero station soon after the incident.

Hundreds of passengers travelling in the three trains remained stranded midway for hours and some of them reportedly left for their destinations by other transport means after realising no early resumption of the rail traffic.

Nusrat Bhutto university design discussed

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah has directed consultant to add historical and cultural features to the design for Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University to turn the edifice into an eye-catching landmark for Sukkur city.

Mr Shah directed Sukkur Deputy Commissioner Dr Waheed Asghar Bhatti to increase size of land for the university from 30 to 60 acres so that the university, after completion, could use it for its projects over the next 35 years.

He was presiding over a meeting on the university and various other development schemes at the DC’s office here on Saturday.

He directed superintending engineer of buildings department to install solar system in buildings of schools, dispensaries, police stations and other edifices to be constructed in the city to keep students from summer heat and save medicines in discrepancies from possible damage and millions of rupees of public funds expended on electricity.

Mr Shah directed the directing of roads department that standard of work should be improved and all schemes should be completed within stipulated period so that people could benefit from them.

Earlier, the DC briefed the meeting about five schemes for roads, two schemes of the office of director agriculture and cattle colony and said that Rs37 million had been approved for the construction of Bunder Road section near Makrani Masjid.

He said that two schemes of reverse osmosis plant had been completed and work was under way on seven other schemes.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2016