June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

THATTA, June 9: Twenty-seven passengers were injured, some critically, when Lahore-bound Farid Express collided with a stationary goods train near Baradabad railway station, 18 kilometres from here on Monday.

The ill-fated train again hit a tractor-trolley near Pano Akil after it was cleared for travel by concerned railways technicians.

Three bogies of the express were badly damaged in the accident, which led to suspension of railway traffic to and from Karachi for more than two hours.

Eyewitnesses said that the driver accelerated the train’s speed after receiving clearance signal and ran straight into the stationary train.

The injured were rushed to Karachi in a train as the rest of passengers staged a sit-in on the tracks in protest against poor performance of railways administration.

They ended the protest and resumed their journey after the superintendent of railways Mir Mohammad Khaskheli persuaded them and have them board onto Shalimar Express.

The concerned staff of railways were cleared the main track within hours and opened it for traffic.

Our Sukkur correspondent adds: The ill-fated Farid Express again collided with a tractor-trolley at Kot Bullo railway crossing near Pano Akil but escaped a big disaster.

Reports said that when Lahore-bound Farid Express neared Kot Bullo railway crossing at about 5.45 pm driver of a tractor-trolley misjudged the train’s speed and tried to rush across the tracks after breaking down barrier but could not make it.

The tractor-trolley driver jumped from the seat and escaped seconds before the train hit his vehicle. The accident, second in a day, badly damaged the locomotive.

The passengers again staged a demonstration and a sit-in on the tracks after the authorities failed to replace the locomotive and provide them some relief.

The chief controller railways and his deputy could not be reached over phone for comments.