An official says cars numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 went off the track when the train was being rerouted.
LAHORE:
The Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derailed again on Friday, just two days after a similar incident near Shahdadpur, raising fresh concerns over railway safety.
According to railway officials, a coach of the train fell off the track between Farooqabad and Sheikhupura around 9:40 am. There were no immediate reports of casualties or injuries.
A relief train was sent from Lahore shortly after the incident, and authorities said the rescue and restoration operation was expected to end after 12:00 p.m. Railway authorities have initiated efforts to clear the track and restore train operations on the affected stretch.
Four air-conditioned lounge cars of the Lahore-bound Shalimar Express derailed near Shahdadpur railway station on Wednesday, disrupting train operations on both up and down tracks. However, no casualties were reported.
Railway officials said coaches numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 went off the track when the train was being diverted to a circular line due to a faulty Awami Express on the main track of the station.
They added that the Shalimar Express was moving at very low speed while entering the loop line, which helped prevent a serious accident and saved passengers from injuries.
Earlier, the Green Line express from Karachi to Islamabad derailed near Wazirabad on March 27 while leaving the station. Initial findings suggested that the derailment was due to the breakage of the carriage’s stops.
This was the third train accident that occurred in the last ten days of the previous month, a fact that some officials attribute to negligence on the part of the Pakistan Railways authorities.
On March 26, Karakoram Express 41-Up from Karachi to Lahore met with an accident near Khanewal Junction when the train split into two sections. On March 24, the Tezgam Express also derailed near Lodhran. However, railway crews later restored the track and the train resumed its journey.
A joint investigation report later identified that the derailment occurred due to a technical fault in one of the train’s bogies, which turned out to be unfit.
