Train Collision Near Sheikhupura Leaves Nine Injured
A collision occurred on Sunday between the Lahore-bound Mianwali Express and a goods train near Sheikhupura, resulting in nine people sustaining injuries.
Official sources report that the passenger train was en route to Lahore when it collided with a stationary freight train positioned on a loop line at Qila Sattar Shah station, located approximately 20 kilometers east of Sheikhupura.
According to an internal report submitted to senior Pakistan Railways (PR) officials, the 147-up Mianwali Express entered the station at around 4:35 am and impacted the rear van of the goods train on loop line No. 3.
The collision resulted in the derailment of the passenger train’s engine, several coaches, and the rear van of the goods train. This led to the suspension of rail traffic on both the up and down tracks for a period exceeding three hours.
The incident resulted in injuries to four passengers and five officials. Among the injured officials were Nauman (the train manager), Abu Bakar (a staff member of the train contractor), Abdul Sattar (another staff member), Imran Sarwar (the driver), and Bilal (the assistant driver).
According to a spokesperson from Pakistan Railways (PR), all the injuries were minor, and none of the injured individuals required hospitalization.
An hour following the accident, a relief train from Lahore, under the supervision of the Lahore PR divisional superintendent, arrived at the scene to assist with relief efforts, as noted in the internal report.
Following the completion of the relief operation, the Mianwali Express, now powered by a new engine, departed from the station at approximately 7:20 am.
Apart from the Mianwali Express, two other trains, namely the Shuttle Train (27up) and Shuttle Train (28-up), experienced delays as a result of the incident.
It’s worth mentioning that the operation of the train had been outsourced to a private entity by PR in 2021.
According to a source within Pakistan Railways (PR), the collision between the Mianwali Express and another train on the loop line, despite the Mianwali Express being on the main line, is a highly significant matter that should not be overlooked.
Negligence or malfunctioning signals
The source indicated that this incident appears to involve “apparent negligence” allegedly on the part of the assistant station master and the cabin man (kantaywala) responsible for granting line clearance to trains on the main track. If the Mianwali Express, which had no reason to switch to the loop line, entered that track and collided with a stationary train, it suggests a failure on the part of the responsible officials or a malfunction in the track’s interlocking and signaling system.
The source expressed concern that the outdated interlocking/signaling system on the track may have contributed to the accident, but the exact cause will be determined by the investigation report.
In response to the incident, the department suspended four officials, including the train driver, due to alleged negligence, and initiated an inquiry. The suspended individuals include Mr. Sarwar and Mr. Bilal, as well as Ali Raza (assistant station master at Qila Sattar Shah Station) and Safdar Hussain (cabin man).
Shahid Aziz, the CEO of PR, convened an emergency meeting of senior officials on Sunday morning and established a committee to investigate the accident, with a preliminary report expected within 24 hours.
It’s worth noting that this particular track has witnessed deadly collisions in the past, including a tragic incident in 2020 when 22 people, mostly Sikh pilgrims returning from Nankana Sahib, lost their lives when the Shah Hussain Express collided with a coaster on the railway track passing through Sucha Soda, a small town near Farooqabad in Sheikhupura district.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.
