Pakistan Railways refutes report of multiple injuries in Sheikhupura train collision.

No Casualties in Mianwali Express Collision, says Pakistan Railways

The Pakistan Railways refuted reports of multiple injuries following an early morning collision between two trains in Punjab’s Sheikhupura on Sunday. At 4:50 AM, the Mianwali Express, on its way to Lahore, hit a stationary train on the loop line at Qila Sattar Shah station. Several media outlets originally reported a high number of casualties, attracting concerns nationwide.

“All passengers aboard the train remained safe during the accident,” confirmed Railways spokesperson. There were false reports of 31 to 21 injured passengers associated with the Mianwali Express accident. One passenger, who had a pre-existing heart condition, was initially reported as injured but has been moved to the hospital for further checkups.

Investigation Underway, Staff Suspended

Following the mishap, action was quickly taken to resume regular services and ensure passenger safety. The train tracks were cleared by 7:30 AM, and the Mianwali Express continued its scheduled journey to Lahore.

The Railways Spokesperson has confirmed that train driver Imran Sarwar and his assistant, Muhammad Bilal, have been suspended immediately on charges of negligence. “An inquiry committee has been formed on the instructions of the Ministry of Railways,” said the spokesperson. The committee has been asked to submit an incident report within 24 hours.

Ensuring Safety and Accountability

Railways Chairman stated that strict actions would be taken against those found negligent, conforming with the prevalent laws. Echoing similar sentiments, the Railway’s CEO underscored that there would be no compromising on safety measures and protocol.

This incident followed a train derailment near Nawabshah last month that resulted in the unfortunate death of 30 people and left several other passengers injured. As a result of the subsequent inquiry, six Railway officials, including two 18-grade officers, were suspended for their roles in the accident.

Challenge of Aging Infrastructure

These mishaps highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan’s railway system, which consists of close to 7,500 kilometers of track and transports more than 80 million passengers annually. Frequent accidents and derailments underline the need for substantial upgrades to this aging infrastructure to ensure the safety of its passengers.

As investigations into the incident continue, the Pakistan Railways assures the public that every step will be taken to avoid such mishaps in the future, prioritizing passenger safety above all else.