According to a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways (PR), the accident took place at around 3:30 a.m. after a Millat Express train — headed from Karachi to Sargodha — derailed and fell across the “down track”. Due to this, it collided with a Sir Syed Express train coming from Rawalpindi, he said, adding that the incident took place near the Raiti railway station.

“The Millat Express train left Daharki station at 03:28 a.m. Information was received at 03:43 a.m. that the train had derailed at 03:38 a.m. Meanwhile, the Sir Syed Express train passed through Raiti at 03:38 a.m. As the coaches of the derailed train were infringing the down track, the driver tried to apply emergency brakes but the locomotive hit the infringing coaches at 03:38 a.m.,” a PR statement said.

As a result of this accident, six coaches of Millat Express were derailed and five coaches overturned, while two coaches of the Sir Syed Express train were derailed and three overturned, it added, stating that 31 people had been killed while more than 100 had been injured.

The PR spokesperson said a relief train had been dispatched from Rohri while officials, along with police and the local administration, were carrying out rescue efforts. He said that helpline centers have been set up for passengers in Karachi, Sukkur, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

He further said that some of the passengers from the Sir Syed Express train have been taken to the Sadiqabad railway station.

“Railway traffic would be restored when tracks are cleared,” he added.

Ghotki Senior Superintendent of Police Umar Tufail confirmed that 40 people had died in the incident. “Thirty-eight bodies have been shifted to hospitals and two bodies are being retrieved,” he said.

He said that a list is being compiled of the deceased, adding that 25 injured were in critical condition.

In a statement, the Pakistan Railways Directorate said 32 people had died and more than 80 were injured, that a relief train from Sukkur had reached the site.

“Pakistan Army troops, police, the district administration and rescue workers took part in the rescue operation,” the statement said.

The process of shifting the injured and the deceased to hospitals has been completed, it said, adding that giving medical attention to the injured was of the utmost priority.

Restoring railway traffic is also a priority, it said, adding that officials had reached the scene to investigate the incident. Federal Railways Minister Azam Khan Swati will personally oversee the completion of an initial inquiry, it said.

Earlier Monday, the minister had visited the site of the incident.

According to reports, the incident has paralyzed railway traffic across the country. An information desk has been set up at the Hyderabad railway station for passengers. Railway traffic remains suspended till 2 p.m. on both up and down country tracks.

Earlier, Tufail said between 15 to 20 passengers were still trapped in the wreckage of the Millat Express train and authorities are trying to arrange heavy machinery to rescue those people who are crying for help.

He said that the death toll is likely to rise as one of the bogies is still stuck in the wreckage.

“The Pakistan Railways relief train has not yet reached the spot from Rohri,” he said.

He feared once this bogie is cleared the number of dead could rise as it is the main bogie in the entire train, adding that 31 bodies had been retrieved from the wreckage.

Speaking to Dawn.com, an official from chief controller in Karachi said: “It’s a tragedy. We can’t do anything. The time difference between the departures of the two trains is hardly 10 minutes or so.”

The spot where the tragedy occurred is around 6 kilometers to 7 km short of Punjab province inside Sindh region.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was “shocked by the horrific train accident”.

“Have asked the railways minister to reach the site and ensure medical assistance to injured and support for families of the dead. Ordering comprehensive investigation into railway safety fault lines,” he said.

‘Inquiry will determine cause of incident’

PR chief executive officer Nisar Memon said an inquiry into tragedy would determine the cause of the incident. He conceded that the railway tracks in Sukkur division were weak, adding that PR had applied speed restrictions in such spots to ensure passenger safety.

“But this patch of the track is not weak and safety is never compromised,” he told Dawn over the phone.

He said that when restrictions are applied, the train driver maintains the speed at 40 km per hour (kph), 60 kph and 80 kph.

He hoped that one of the tracks would be opened for traffic by 6 p.m. as rescue and relief work was underway.

Popular

Trump 'Board of Peace' opens with money and troops for Gaza

Why Israel fears Indonesian peacekeepers in Gaza

Indonesia, US sign reciprocal tariff agreement