RAHIM YAR KHAN: A bogie of a freight train caught fire near Khanpur railway station, some 45 kilometres from here, while it was travelling from Karachi to Lahore on Saturday morning.

Due to the fire, rail traffic remained suspended on the down track for an hour.

According to railway sources, the 105-Up ZBC Super Parcel goods train was en route to Badami Bagh, Lahore from Karachi loaded with chemical bags and drums. When it was crossing Khanpur around 9am, railways staff saw smoke in one of its wagons. They stopped the train away from the platform and called Rescue 1122 service that took time to arrive. Resultantly, the chemical in the bogie was damaged.

Khanpur Station Master Muhammad Arbi told Dawn the train was stopped and the affected wagon isolated because of a populated area nearby. Immediate and vigilant action by railways staff saved the train from any major loss, he claimed.

Sources said the freight trains transported highly inflammable and dangerous chemicals without following safety protocols that could endanger human life. Besides, there were no proper arrangements to tackle any problem in case of emergency during a journey, they added.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2021