LAHORE, Aug 19: Train service to and from Karachi resumed on Saturday when a freight train reached Hyderabad through the repaired temporary bridge near Ran Pathani in Thatta district.

“Our engineers declared the bridge fit for trains’ passage at 1pm. The Container Special began its journey from Drigh Colony at 3.15pm and reached Ran Pathani station at 6.25pm,” officials at the PR headquarters said.

The second temporary bridge will be ready by Monday evening and all Karachi-bound mail and express trains will reach their destinations instead of terminating at Hyderabad, the officials said.

On July 39, flood-water damaged three spans of a bridge between Ran Pathani and Dhabeji, forcing authorities to suspend the operation of all upcountry trains and halting down-country trains at Hyderabad.

The service resumed on August 5 after railway authorities had erected a makeshift bridge.

However, outer ends of the alternative tracks were washed away on August 13 by a fresh spell of flood-water, resulting in suspension of the operation again.