HYDERABAD, Aug 13: One week after its restoration, the train operation from Karachi came to a standstill again on Sunday after a fresh spell of heavy rain damaged both the alternative routes the Pakistan Railways had laid between Ran Pathani and Dhabeji.

The alternative routes were made after downpour had washed away four pillars of the Ran Pathani bridge on July 30.

“I have been told by officials from the site at around 4pm to suspend the operation of passenger trains from and to Karachi,” confirmed PR’s deputy divisional superintendent Karachi Anzer Ismail Rizvi.

He said meals and other facilities would be provided to the passengers stranded at Hyderabad, Kotri and other stations.

It was only on Saturday afternoon that labourers had completed work on the second alternative track, making it possible to resume the fully-fledged operation from Karachi on Sunday. The last up and down trains that passed through the alternative tracks on Sunday were Hazara Express and Fareed Express, respectively.

Passengers travelling in Karachi-bound trains — Allama Iqbal Express, Zakriya Express and Faisalabad Night Coach — faced great inconvenience when these trains had to return back to Hyderabad.

Authorities cancelled Karakoram Express, Millat Express, Khyber Mail, Shah Rukn-i-Alam Express and Sukkur Express that were scheduled to start their journey from Karachi.

A full refund of money has been announced for the passengers who want to get their tickets cancelled. But, passengers were facing difficulties in getting refunds as officials said they were yet to receive such directive.

Chaotic conditions prevailed at Hyderabad after intending passengers were told that the upcountry trains they planned to board had been cancelled. A large number of such passengers were stranded at Kotri and Hyderabad stations.

“Super Express and Tezgam are scheduled to leave for Punjab from Hyderabad late in the night,” said an official here.

Some passengers complained that officials misbehaved when they approached them to seek information.

Passengers were being shifted to Karachi through buses. But the arrangement was far from being satisfactory as there were people who had to bear additional expenses and hire private vehicles.

Reports reaching here said that thousands of other passengers were facing hardship as several trains coming to Hyderabad and Karachi had been stopped at Tando Adam, Nawabshah and Rohri stations.

Since July 30, Pakistan Railways has suffered a growing loss of tens of millions of rupees. Freight trains are stuck up in Karachi, delaying delivery of consignments to different parts of the country.