Four killed as trains collide near Multan

Taser Subhani AFP Published September 15, 2016

MULTAN: At least four people were killed and several others injured as a passenger train collided with a goods train on late Wednesday night at Buch Railway Station near Multan, rescue officials said.

The Awami Express, heading to Karachi from Peshawar, struck a goods train which was standing on the tracks. Rescue officials said that around 50 injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital, Multan, while more than 50 were provided first aid on the spot.

Dr. Kaleem, a Rescue Emergency Officer said that the rescue operations had been completed. He added that 40 ambulances, along with 200 rescuers from Lodhran, Muzafar Garh and Multan participated in the operations.

Personnel of the Pakistan Army also participated in the rescue operations.

Saima Khizar, Director Vigilance of Pakistan Railways, Multan Division, said that the affected people were being shifted to Multan through private transport, from where they would be transported to Karachi.

She further said that efforts were being made to clear the railway track. She added that it would take up to 18 hours to make the track functional.

Railway official Saima blamed the accident on the passenger train driver, saying he failed to heed a red signal that went up after the goods train had stopped.

Last November, 19 people were killed in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province after a train's brakes failed and it sped down the side of a mountain.

In July 2015, at least 17 people were killed when a special military train fell into a canal after a bridge partially collapsed.

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Harvard

Sep 15, 2016 09:33am

Height of negligence by Pak Railway, the driver and staff must have alerted the 15 min behind Awami Express,nowadays all drivers and staff have cell phone,besides for such situations there are crackers,which the staff could have fixed on track,to alert the coming train.Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique is good responsible man,and it's hope he will take stern action after holding inquiry.

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Mazak

Sep 15, 2016 09:31am

End rush. Need to privatize railway asap. Get better signaling systems and alarms in trains.

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NARENDRAN

Sep 15, 2016 09:41am

To avoid human errors we must also have an electronic system , which will automatically stop the the train if some other train is found in the same track within (say) one k.m.

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desikan

Sep 15, 2016 09:45am

@Harvard I wonder who uses crackers for stopping trains in current technological age. Signals are the only reliable way to stop collisions and in this case the driver ignored the red signal. Obviously lot of education abd training need to be done for the drivers.

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Umar

Sep 15, 2016 09:50am

@Harvard Not sure if you know but railways is not managed through mobile phones. There is a signalling system in place. In this case most likely the driver ignored the signal, causing the accident.

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Raunak

Sep 15, 2016 09:52am

RIP

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 09:56am

Total incompetence by pakistan Railways.Outdated signal system.TODAY many advance railways had installed collision warning system in railway system.this was a latest Chinese Engine where obviously there was no Collision warning system installed which is why accident happened.....earlier Pak army train fell from bridge and the in Balochistan overspeed costed and now this.....

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Aussie

Sep 15, 2016 10:13am

railways are 200 years old technology while still accidents in Pakistan. joke?? spend money on infrastructure of Pak Railways. and put corrupt in jail

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ART KP

Sep 15, 2016 10:17am

Please stop betraying Pakistan anymore, stop looting this nation. Gov is not doing anything about Pak railway.

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TRUEMAN

Sep 15, 2016 10:25am

There are Railways in Pakistan? I am surprised, indeed.

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The end is near

Sep 15, 2016 10:30am

Criminal negligence of Railway employees. This accident could have been much worse. Railway failed to take lessons from the past.

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AdHawk

Sep 15, 2016 10:35am

Still safer than driving.

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Aussie

Sep 15, 2016 10:37am

get educated people and TRAIN them PROPERLY to railways 200 years old technology which causing accidents still in Pakistan. blame technology...well we need right people for right jobs with REAL training

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ART KP

Sep 15, 2016 10:40am

@TRUEMAN To be ignorant of history is to always remain a child! The British built railways 500 years ago!

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SYED A. MATEEN

Sep 15, 2016 10:44am

I am grieved to learn about the accident between the passenger and cargo train in Multan and pray for the departed souls and speedy recovery of the injured. The matter should be investigated fully so that such incident should not be repeated again.

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M.Saeed

Sep 15, 2016 11:39am

What about station master and Gola-transfer rule?

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deendayal

Sep 15, 2016 12:36pm

The use of crackers to stop trains in these days of satellite technology is really surprising. Auto collision control system should be used. Any rail accident results in loss of precious human lives. Pakistan needs to modernise its antiquated railways - most of the tracks have been laid during the British Raj.

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Chirag

Sep 15, 2016 12:50pm

Pakistan save what is left of your railways

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MIAN

Sep 15, 2016 12:52pm

Take notice, form committee, pay money to the deceased families and job is done.same formula is applied in every incident. What a system Mashaallah.

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Khurram

Sep 15, 2016 01:23pm

Train accidents happen everywhere in the world, nothing new here. RIP.

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Rao Gladiator

Sep 15, 2016 01:30pm

Bad goverence by khawaja saad rafique so far.they show their good image in good book of nawaz sharif but reality is totally different from last 10 year,s.Govt need to take solid stand against him because these kind of incident,s show their performance. we blame driver,s again and again but there is technical failure due to their poor management.we have last no of people during different type of rail collision.i hope ,need some change w.r.t again.

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 01:43pm

@Harvard responsible minister? Bro come and see mianwali route,it has become a graveyard once 13 trains were running here in which 9 daytime suspended only 4 night times are running since 2011 while kundian which is third biggest railway station of pakistan has 30 ruined engines in Loco shed never repaired look more like graveyard of Locos

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Daman

Sep 15, 2016 01:53pm

Which company making railway engines and coaches here? I think the technology is too old..

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 02:23pm

Railway can generate 20 billions dollars annually if it gives area to live on lease for its workers but authorities are so corrupt that in lieu of eating more commission of new engines they use sub standard oil to break the crankshaft used in old engines.even new engines are not good enough to pull 20 carriages having just 3000 HP.while atleast 8000 HP are required for that and even through 20 billion dollar an indegenous loco factory of such engines can be built...only required thorough devotion for work.

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 02:48pm

People illegally occupied Railway land,dont pay taxes and fares where they live,subsequently revenue generation is low the rest job is completed by corruption and mis management.authorities are even accused of smuggling arms via freight trains and honest and dignified anchor Iqrar Hassan and his collegues are beaten badly by railway police for showing reality.so when institutions has no systemic approach backed by devotion and patriotism.Such things will continue to form in various shapes.....

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Smart Solution

Sep 15, 2016 02:57pm

What a bunch of incompetent system administration. This every day road killing, bus hits car, train hits truck, now train hits train. Those poor planners and incompetent of roads, high ways and traffic controllers should be fired from their jobs.

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 03:08pm

Such people in administration particularly Bureaucrats of Railways and commercial transport group didnot learn anything from 2005 Ghotki Triple train Accident when hundreds of people died....HOW CAN WE EXPECT THEM TO LEARN FROM SUCH MINOR INCIDENT.They will give money to Aggreived and problem solved.This is their usual tactics and really a shame .this is fourth accident in two years for which railways of our country hold a wonderful record...

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Ashwin

Sep 15, 2016 03:27pm

@ART KP The Britishers first made railway in 1830s not 500 years ago.

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Ahmedj

Sep 15, 2016 03:37pm

Director vigilance has rightly put the blame on the driver that he did not see the red signal. Strangely no one questions the railways that why in modern times the organisation only rely on manual methods where human error probability remains very high. Why not electronic and digital systems in place to counter human errors. All these directors and ministers are to be blamed. They are paid for safety and services of railways. Criminal charges should be imposed on them and told to stepdown from their posts where they failed as public servants

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Sep 15, 2016 03:39pm

A very sad incident. I pray that those injured recover soon. The main issue as I see it is why the driver was not so alert. What could be the cause, overworked because of long hours, medical problem etc.

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Zaman Channa

Sep 15, 2016 03:43pm

Railway should introduce active Wireless system to make it more effective.

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I. Ahmed

Sep 15, 2016 04:33pm

In any decent country, with or without democracy, the Minister would have resigned after one single incident like this. Would our beloved, hardworking Minister of Railways, please, resign?

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Anwar Saeed. Saint Louis, Missouri. USA

Sep 15, 2016 04:36pm

Pakistan Railway Minister is the ultimate responsible for this tragedy. It is not the first time and will not be the last. Just inquiries and meetings will not the solve the problem. I was planing to travel Pakistan by train but now I have changed my mind. The passengers were not treated right, because most of the poor Pakistani travel since there is not another reliable transport system in Pakistan.

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Aurora

Sep 15, 2016 04:43pm

Send ur railmen to India for training.There are more than 12000 trains running daily.

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Tamil Guru

Sep 15, 2016 04:55pm

Solution is to install Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) like in India. It costs Rs50 lakhs per km. http://www.oneindia.com/2011/09/23/railways-to-provide-automatic-brakes-system.html

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Neighbour

Sep 15, 2016 05:06pm

Safety operated by Firecrackers and mobile phones? You guys living in ice-age? It's age of Anti-collision sensors and satellite GPS system in rest of the world.

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 05:25pm

@Aurora we are not discussing training here.we are discussing mis management here which is rising either due to corruption because of no check and balance or due to carelessness because of Callousness.a policy maker in any intitution should be MOTIVATED first to do work....his training matters later....

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Pakistan

Sep 15, 2016 05:50pm

No problem. Saad Rafique and his staff are working on who to blame. A technical defect is a 'plausible reason'. Eventually this will too end up like Modal Town!!!

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Pakistan

Sep 15, 2016 05:53pm

In early 60s world especially far east like South Korea looked up to Pakistan for modernising their Railways. Field Marshal Ayub Khan was the President of Pakistan.

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Aurora

Sep 15, 2016 06:20pm

@Zealot : 'a policy maker in any intitution should be MOTIVATED first to do work....his .." No policy maker,even very highly motivated & honest, can succeed and bring results with half trained subordinates who simply cling to job for monthly wage. Removing corruption is basic but in PR the way its being handled , rerailment of a failed system is highly unlikely in the near future.

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John

Sep 15, 2016 06:34pm

@Mazak I agree, this all part of the plan to privatize Railways.

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Hindutavi Rakshas

Sep 15, 2016 06:37pm

@Mazak t tomorrow ppl like yo Neill say privatize Pakistan for yiur certain vested interests.

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gp65

Sep 15, 2016 08:10pm

@ART KP "@TRUEMAN To be ignorant of history is to always remain a child! The British built railways 500 years ago!" Right back at you as far as knowledge of history goes. 1. The first train in the Indian subcontinent was between Bombay and Thane in 1853 - which is less than200 years. 2. British East India company came to India in the 18th century and left in middle of 20thcentury. Certainly hey were not around for 500years.

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gp65

Sep 15, 2016 08:14pm

@Pakistan "In early 60s world especially far east like South Korea looked up to Pakistan for modernising their Railways. Field Marshal Ayub Khan was the President of Pakistan." The fact that Ayub was President is coincidental. HE had no role to play in development of railways. Pakistan was just lucky to inherit a part of country which was more developed infrastructurally.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Sep 15, 2016 08:31pm

Railway Minister should resign.

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Zealot

Sep 15, 2016 08:39pm

@Aurora totally a baseless comment.use your common sense.a motivated person can make systematic approach by setting the code of conduct to work within certain rules and then appoint suitable personel to make checks and balance or either do inquiry by himself and then hire and fire those who are not UPTO the MERIT......got it? Or should i explain you further?

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Fazeel Mehboob

Sep 15, 2016 09:43pm

SORRY to heard about such a disastrous railway accident one more time. Unfortunately in Pak, there is no any concept of proactive measurements. Our govt and institutional officials always be active after a serious accident, which mostly cost many lives. we are repeating the same negligence over and over..

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Fazeel Mehboob

Sep 15, 2016 09:51pm

The credit only goes to mismanagement at all. Any accident any where in any location under any institute proved the incompetency of that official of that institute.. Administration of railway must take responsibilities and must take some solid steps to avoid such type of incident in future..

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Haider

Sep 15, 2016 10:27pm

Once we are done with the orange line we will focus on pakistan railways too. The problem is that the orange line helps to secure and score valuable points that are absolutely critical to getting votes in 2018. Any money spent on the national network will mostly go unnoticed and provide very limited, one time, opportunities for press conferences and photo sessions. I am sure it's on the to do list, but not high on priority. They will probably contract it out to a Turkish or Chinese company so money can be made as well in commissions and kick backs.

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Alla Bux

Sep 15, 2016 11:54pm

Irrespective of what Indians claim, this proves we have trains and they do run, even if they do run into each other occasionally.

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Harvard

Sep 16, 2016 12:18am

@Neighbour .But despite these latest gadgets,accidents do occur in developed nations too.In this case the rear coming Awami Express was probably speeding at 80 miles per hour,and was only 20 miles away,even if brakes were applied it will take 5 miles to stop at such speed. The 15 min times was too short, the best option for goods train driver was to urgently remove the train, and take it further down to safe parking spot, available at all stations.But the goods train remain stopped at that station where it's not scheduled to stop. Back the signal as assumed maybe red,but Awami Express driver ignored it,and blunder occurred.There are many responsibilities of this accident,both the trains drivers,and station staff. As far as cracker alert and alarming system is concerned,it's the most trustable system even today used in Pakistan,and India Railways it's in use.

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Mr Aussie

Sep 16, 2016 03:43am

Very sad and very common in Pakistan. The whole system needs to change. At least use advance technology. Pakistani still living 50 years behind from the developed countries. one thing more, Pakistan Army has to fulfill all the duties of the state. no doubt, they are the best in the world.

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Umar

Sep 16, 2016 06:05am

@Aussie what if it is the corrupt who run the system in the first place

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Shabbir Afridi

Sep 16, 2016 09:00am

21st century and we are still relying on sleeping and yawning station masters and rail operators!! what a nation

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Ali

Sep 16, 2016 12:19pm

@NARENDRAN No need to change railway system operated automatically, people will lose their jobs, labour is cheaper in Pakistan. I believe Minister Railway must sort out lacks, trained personals and maintain the railway's infrastructure. Investing more money by buying automatic engines will increase cost of tickets, which decrease the customers travelling via Pak rails.

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brar

Sep 17, 2016 11:49am

@The end is near you are right keeping in mind the speed the train was running at 100 km .

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brar

Sep 17, 2016 12:01pm

@Pakistan Not even one km track laid, no loco engine producing unit no coach factory till 2016 and you are talking about 1960,

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brar

Sep 17, 2016 12:13pm

@Harvard 80 miles ie 128 kms seems in correct it was running at 80 kms.

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Citizen

Sep 17, 2016 06:57pm

@ART KP 500 years ???

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SIRAJ SYED from USA

Sep 17, 2016 11:15pm

There are accidents which take place in USA s well. In Pakistan a person who operates a locomotive is known as a Driver whereas in USA he is known as an Engineer. It is impossible for any operator to ignore a signal. These Operators carry a devilish devise, a cell phone or a laptop and this driver must have been watching a movie or talking to somebody on his phone and did not realize he has crossed a "NO GO" signal. Railways should ensure that Locomotive operators do not carry cell phones and laptops.

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