Landhi Railway Station in Karachi. – Online
KARACHI: Two trains collided in the city’s Landhi area early Thursday morning, leaving at least 21 people dead and resulting in injuries to 65 others including children.
The accident occurred in Gaddafi Town Landhi at 7:18 AM when Zakaria Express collided with the stationary Fareed Express. Two bogies of Fareed Express and one bogie of Zakaria Express were completely destroyed due to the collision.
Fareed Express was at Juma Goth Train station when Zakaria Express crashed into it. Initial investigation reveals that the driver of Zakaria Express ignored the signal.
21 bodies and 65 injured have been brought to Jinnah Hospital, said Dr. Seemi Jamali, Head of Emergency Department at Jinnah Hospital. “Many among the injured have head injuries and some are in critical condition,” she added.
“I am dying, I am dying, please, please, I am dying,” cried Abdul Ghaffar, 55, as doctors tried to move his legs and hands. He appeared to have multiple injuries, while his children and wife were also wounded and lay on beds nearby.
Other victims appeared too stunned to talk. Many had head and foot injuries, and at least one man had his leg amputated below the knee. The crash resulted in traffic jam, and ambulances carrying the injured got stuck on the roads. Emergency has been declared at Jinnah Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Civil Hospital.
Fareed Express was coming to Karachi from Lahore, while Zakaria Express had set off from Multan.
All trains from Karachi have been suspended till rescue work is completed. Trains on their way to Karachi will be stopped at another station before they reach Landhi.
Officials said rescuers armed with metal-cutting equipment and heavy cranes had managed to pull all the passengers from the twisted wreckage.
“No-one is left inside,” Ijaz Ahmad Khan, a Karachi administrative official, told reporters at the scene.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain expressed grief over the accident and offered their condolences to the families of the victims. President Mamnoon Hussain ordered investigation into the collision and announced financial help for the victims’ families.
Passenger Ajab Gul told AFP he was on his way to his factory job when he witnessed the accident.
“Suddenly another train came speeding in and smashed into the parked train,” he said, describing the sound of the crash as “huge”.
“There were clouds of dust and smog. After that we heard screams. People inside the collided trains were screaming and crying.” Onlookers rushed to their aid, he said, adding that he had helped pull 17 people, including women and children, from the wreckage.
But, he added, “there were many other people trapped inside… we could not get them out.” Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said the accident was caused through a human error and the signal system of the Railways was functioning perfectly. According to Rafique, the driver of Zakaria Express was at fault as he ignored signals. “The driver and assistant driver are missing and there is a search to find them,” Rafique said, adding that the initial report would be completed within 72 hours. – Agencies
