RAWALPINDI:
The new Islamabad Express derailed near Sohawa just two hours after its inauguration due to a technical glitch, leaving several passengers lightly injured, but no deaths were reported.
The train, which was inaugurated at 5:30 p.m. by Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, derailed around 7:30 p.m. near the hilly tracks of Sohawa, with a loud bang.
The cars were seriously damaged and rail traffic remained suspended on both tracks for three hours.
Railway unions claimed that the Islamabad Express was made up of old, discarded carriages that had been renovated and repainted to look new.
They said safety equipment was not available and despite repeated requests, essential equipment to ensure passenger safety remained in short supply.
Divisional Superintendent of Railways, Rawalpindi said that after receiving reports of the accident, engineers and technical staff were immediately rushed to the site.
Teams from Jhelum and Sohawa also joined the operation, clearing the track after three hours.
An internal investigation has been opened into the derailment.
Passengers Arshad Ali and Rustam said the speed of the train slowed as it entered the hilly section near Sohawa and strange noises came from below before the carriages derailed.
“It was like an earthquake,” they remember. Fortunately, all passengers remained safe.
Three senior railway officials, including the chief mechanical engineer and chief engineer, arrived at the spot on Friday to conduct a probe, with the report expected in the coming days.
Railway sources said the railway track in the area already had serious alignment problems known to higher authorities.
The derailment occurred because the rail wheel slipped due to a misaligned junction point.
