Two more trains derail in Punjab, exposing railways ‘infrastructure issues’

In Punjab, two more train derailments have occurred, highlighting the railway infrastructure's ongoing issues. The first incident involved a coal train, which derailed at Feroza Railway Station, near Khanpur and Liaqatpur, after running into a sand hump on the loopline. It is believed that the train's weak brakes or the driver's delayed braking action were the contributing factors.

Eleven wagons of the coal train, which was en route from Karachi to Sahiwal coal power plant, were severely damaged, but the locomotive and its crew were unharmed. As a result, railway traffic was halted on the up track, and all trains from Karachi were rerouted to the down track.

The second derailment occurred near Kala Gujran in Jhelum district, where a passenger train, the Rawal Express, derailed on the Main Line-1 (Lahore-Rawalpindi track). This incident further disrupted railway operations, causing a suspension of rail traffic for at least five hours. Passengers were forced to leave the train and use road transport to reach their destinations due to the hot weather conditions.

The railways CEO declined to comment on the matter, but an official source revealed that the railway track, faulty rolling stock, human error, and other factors contribute to the repeated accidents. The official emphasized that if these issues persist, major fatal accidents may occur in the future. This is the fourth accident involving the same coal train since July 10, with the previous incidents happening near Harappa, Wahab Shah Station, and Jangshahi Railway Station.

Additionally, seven derailments and accidents involving other trains were reported between July 5 and August 5, causing significant disruptions to train operations.