SUKKUR: A fire destroyed three coaches of Sukkur Express at the Jacobabad railway station on Friday.

Several coaches of the train were parked on a platform of the station when one of them caught fire.

Fire-tenders were called but they reached the station with a delay of about an hour. The fire had already destroyed the three coaches one after the other by the time the fire-fighters started their work.

No senior railway official, including the station master, could be found at the scene or reached by phone when the lower staff and media tried to contact them.

Some local PR officers alerted the divisional superintendent and other higher officials in Sukkur who ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Sources in the railway police said it seemed to be an act of subversion but its cause or motive could be ascertained after initial investigation.

The fire disrupted at least one train service that was to run with the three burnt-out coaches. Four coaches were to be attached with the affected Karachi-bound train at the Jacobabad station and some other coaches at the Sukkur station.

Published in Dawn, May 31th, 2014