ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways Rawalpindi-bound Tezgam Express caught fire on early Thursday morning while running in district Rahimyar Khan in which 73 passengers lost their precious lives while 40 others received injuries.
Federal minister for railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed told journalists that a member of Tablighi Jamat named Ameer Hussain booked two economy class coaches in Tezgam Train. Various passengers from Mehrabpur, Hyderabad and Nawabshah boarded the train, he added.
He told that the passengers were carrying oil stoves and gas cylinders with them which exploded, resulting death of 73 passengers and injuring 40 others. “We have decided to give a compensation of Rs1.5 million to each dead and Rs500,000 to each injured,” the minister announced.
The minister lauded Pakistan Army and rescue teams for their rapid and early response to this accident. He said the man who booked the coaches is alive and has the details of other members along with him. He said that authorities are trying to contact their families.
He said that 70 million people travel through railways in a year while 10 million passengers increased during his tenure, and hence railway authorities are facing a shortage of coaches.
He further said that at least 200,000 passengers belonging to Tableeghi Jamaat travels via railway and due to their annual congregation, a two-minute stop has been given to 134 trains at the newly-built Raiwind railway station.
The minister accepted that railway authorities’ negligence that passengers were able to carry cylinders and stove on the train resulting in the tragic incident.
He said that they do not have scanners at small stations but the facility is available at all seven divisional headquarters. He added that it is their priority to make passengers lives safe and secure.
Sheikh Rashid later reached Rahim Yar Khan and inquired the health and well-being of the injured passengers of the train and directed hospital administration to provide best treatment facilities to them.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his grief over the sad incident and also directed for inquiry of the incident beside best treatment to injured ones.
The injured passengers of the train have been shifted to district hospital Liaquatpur, Bahawalpur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan. The train has been departed for its destination after detaching the burnt bogies.
The federal government inspector of railways (FGIR) has collect evidences from the site of the incident for investigation which will be shared with the media when completed.
Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Railways Ejaz Ahmed Buriro, chief mechanical engineer carriage and wagon, chief electrical engineer and chief commercial manager were also present at the site to monitor relief activities.
A helpline has also been set up on the direction of railway chairman Sikandar Sultan for obtaining information about the passengers of said train.
For this purpose, contact can be made on following numbers. Multan Division: 061-9200382, DCO Multan Division: 0311-4403720, Hyderabad Inquiry:0300-3026200, Lahore Control Office:042-99201795, Sukkur Control Office:071-9310087, Karachi Division:021-99213528, Divisional Commercial Officer Karachi:0346-8328023.
