In a harrowing incident near Ferozewala, several passengers sustained injuries when the Mianwali Express collided with a stationary goods train. The collision occurred at Qila Sattar Shah station in the Ferozewala area, raising serious concerns about railway safety in Pakistan.
The ill-fated Mianwali Express was en route from Mianwali to Lahore when it unexpectedly rammed into a goods train that was parked at the station. Shockingly, among those injured were the train’s driver and assistant, highlighting the severity of the collision.
Railway officials have placed the blame squarely on the alleged negligence of the railway station staff who failed to change the railway track, setting the stage for this disastrous collision. Local authorities acted swiftly, ensuring that all the injured passengers were promptly transported to a nearby hospital. Those with minor injuries received immediate first aid on-site.
However, Pakistan Railways refuted media reports of multiple injuries during a collision of two trains. At 4:50am today, the Mianwali Express, enroute Lahore, rammed into another train parked in the loop line at the Qila Sattar Shah station.
All passengers aboard the train remained safe during the accident, Railways spokesperson Babar Ali said adding that one passenger, who had a pre-existing heart condition, was wounded and had been moved to the hospital. Reports of 31 or 21 injured persons in the Mianwali Express accident are based on lies, the railways spokesperson clarified.
Ali confirmed that the track was cleared by 7:30am shortly after which Mianwali Express continued its journey to Lahore.
This unfortunate incident draws attention to a recurring issue within Pakistan’s rail network, as only last month, a devastating derailment of at least 10 coaches of the Hazara Express near Nawabshah resulted in 30 passenger fatalities and over 40 injuries.
A mere day before the Nawabshah tragedy, the Allama Iqbal Express narrowly escaped a potential catastrophe when two of its coaches derailed near the Padidan railway station. The incident led to the temporary suspension of traffic on the affected railway track.
It is crucial to acknowledge that railway accidents in Pakistan continue to occur due to a range of factors, including dilapidated railway tracks, aging railway structures, malfunctioning signals, improper crossings, the absence of gates on railway lines, driver errors, and various technical issues. The safety of passengers remains a paramount concern as the nation grapples with these ongoing challenges in its rail infrastructure.
