LAHORE: Karachi-bound Allama Iqbal Express was the first train to have passed through the Bachoki level crossing on Monday, about 18 hours after rail traffic between Raiwind and Premnagar stations had been suspended because of the derailment of the locomotive and three carriages of Karachi Express on Sunday.

“Our staff put the derailed coaches and locomotive back on track at 9:30am and subsequently our engineers declared the track fit for traffic. From 12:30pm onwards all Karachi-bound trains are going through this route,” said an official of the Pakistan Railways at its headquarters.

After hitting a trailer truck on Sunday evening, the locomotive of Karachi Express went off the track, dragging away two passenger carriages and a railway officers’ coach, suspending rail traffic between Lahore and Karachi.

INQUIRY: The Pakistan Railways (PR) has set up a committee to conduct an inquiry into the derailment of Karachi Express.

Headed by PR Chief Operating Superintendent Mah­m­oodul Hassan, the com­mittee would submit in 10 days a report to Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, said an announcement.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015