RAHIM YAR KHAN, May 27: Rail traffic on the main line between Karachi and various up-country destinations was suspended when a goods train derailed about 15kms from here on Friday afternoon. The accident took place between the Taranda Saway Khan and Kotsamaba stations at around 2pm. The restoration work had been started and an official said it might continue until Saturday.
The PR authorities said that 13 container wagons derailed and fell over tracks shortly after the UC-271 train had left the Taranda Saway Khan station for an upcountry destination at 2pm.
Two small bridges on watercourses were damaged causing suspension of the traffic. The authorities had to halt 30 up-and-down trains at different stations in Punjab and Sindh. The PR officials said the derailment had been apparently caused by some technical fault but added that the exact cause could be determined only after investigation.
There was a scene of administrative chaos at the local station. At 6.30pm, the Lahore-bound Shalimar Express was sent to the site of the derailment whereas the Karachi-bound Shalimar Express, which was halted at Khanpur, arrived at the other side of site. The objective was to ensure continuity of the journey by making passengers to change their trains. But there the authorities realized that it was an impossible task because of the distance and luggage involved.
