Pakistan
Daharki train accident: Army, rangers reach incident site
Rawalpindi: Following the train accident near Daharki in Ghotki District which left 30 people dead, army and rangers troops have reached the incident site and carrying out relief and rescue operation, said military’s media wing.
According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), military doctor and paramedics along with ambulances moved from Pannu Aqil has also reached incident site.
Engineer resources moved to carry out necessary relief and rescue work. Army special Engineer Team Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) being Heli lifted from Rawalpindi to the incident site to speed up relief and rescue efforts.
Two helicopters are being flown from Multan for casualties’ evacuation and speedy relief measures. Relief goods are also being prepared and will be dispatched shortly.
Earlier today at least 30 passengers were killed and several others injured after a collision between Millat Express and Sir Syed Express between Raiti and Obaro Railway stations near Ghotki in wee hours of Monday.
As per details, several bogies of Millat Express derailed and fell on the other track and Sir Syed Express that was coming from opposite direction, collided with these bogies.
Reportedly, Millat Express was on its way to Sargodha from Karachi while Sir Syed Express was going to Karachi from Lahore.
The police and rescue teams reached the spot after getting information and shifted the injured and dead to a nearby hospital.
Rescue teams have been dispatched from Sukkur and Sadiqabad and would reach the spot very soon. The death toll in the accident is feared to rise as several passengers are trapped in the bogies.
Heavy machinery and cutters are required for the operation, said Deputy Commissioner Usman Abdullah. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the derailment and the subsequent collision, Abdullah said.