RAWALPINDI:
The newly inaugurated Islamabad Express derailed near Sohawa barely two hours after its inauguration due to a technical fault, leaving several passengers slightly injured, although no fatalities were reported.
The train, which was inaugurated by Federal Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi at 5.30 pm, derailed with a loud crash around 7.30 pm near the Sohawa mountain tracks.
The carriages were severely damaged and rail traffic was suspended on both tracks for three hours.
Railway unions claimed that the Islamabad Express was made up of old, scrapped carriages that were renovated and repainted to look new.
They said safety equipment was not available and, despite repeated requests, essential material to ensure passenger safety remained in short supply.
The Superintendent of Rawalpindi Railway Division said that upon receiving reports of the accident, engineers and technical staff were immediately sent to the spot.
Teams from Jhelum and Sohawa also joined the operation, clearing the runway after three hours.
An internal investigation into the derailment has been launched.
Passengers Arshad Ali and Rustam said the train’s speed had slowed as it entered the hilly section near Sohawa and strange sounds could be heard from below before the carriages derailed.
“It felt like an earthquake,” they recalled. Fortunately, all passengers are safe.
Three senior railway officials, including the chief mechanical engineer and chief engineer, reached the spot on Friday to conduct an inquiry, and a report is expected in the next few days.
Railway sources said the 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 attachment point.
