August 15, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 1, 1428

FAISALABAD, Aug 14: Scores of passengers failed to catch Faisalabad-bound Millat Express owing to a massive traffic jam in Karachi on Monday.

Reportedly, a number of passengers were on their way to Karachi Cantt station to catch the train but they got trapped in the traffic jam which had spread its tentacles on different roads of the port city.

Rainwater accumulated on the roads added to the woes of passengers as most of them chose to reach the railway station on foot. However, those stranded at longer distances from the station could not make to their destination timely.

The train was scheduled to leave station on 4:30pm and, ironically, it left for Faisalabad only ten minutes later than its departure time.

Nadeem Chishti, who somehow succeeded in boarding the train, lamented the performance of the railway authorities. He said despite knowing about the traffic jam in Karachi, the authorities did nothing to facilitate the intending passengers in boarding the train, not even those who had their seats reserved.

He said the Karachi traffic police and not the passengers were responsible for the mess.

Another passenger, Shaban, said the failure of many to board the train left a number of cabins vacant in the air-conditioned coaches, besides seats in economy class. “It provided a tremendous opportunity to the corrupt railway employees to arrange space for those who were ready to grease their palm.”

Arif Ali said it was evident that railway authorities did not bother to know the reasons for the absence of scores of passengers. He said it was also the duty of Karachi city district government to officially inform the railway authorities of the traffic jam.