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A train crushed two motorised rickshaws on an ungated crossing, killing seven schoolchildren in Punjab's Lodhran district, police said.
Police officer Javed Ahmed said the rickshaw drivers apparently misjudged the speed of the coming train due to heavy fog while attempting to cross the tracks early Friday morning near Lodhran.
The train was heading to Karachi from Lahore.
Ahmed said another five children aged 5 to 8 years and one rickshaw driver were critically injured.
Train accidents are common in Pakistan, which inherited thousands of kilometres of track and trains from former colonial power, Britain.
The railways have seen decades of decline due to corruption, mismanagement and lack of investment.
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On DawnNews
Jan 06, 2017 10:50am
The penalty for carelessness is death.
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Jan 06, 2017 11:01am
Extremely sad news. Young students were the future of their families. My heart goes with their family members. Would our Railways Minister please elaborate that what safety measures were available at this cross section and what is the state of such cross sections across Pakistan. Unless we would do something on emergency basis, I fear more accidents in future also.
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Jan 06, 2017 11:00am
Extremely sad.
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Jan 06, 2017 11:14am
Drivers fault couldnt he see the train coming what was he thinking with so many kids in the rickshaw.
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Jan 06, 2017 11:26am
Very Sad, but efforts be geared up to erect/construct doors for every railway crossing throughout the country to avoid such type of incident in future.
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Jan 06, 2017 11:30am
All public transport drivers are not trained.
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Jan 06, 2017 11:40am
Illiterate driving educated will result this output
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Jan 06, 2017 11:45am
RIP kids.
To Railway, there must be proper gates on such crossings. That should be top priority. Investment on artificial stuff should come later.
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Jan 06, 2017 12:12pm
Why the heck are schools are not delayed during fog? The school administrative should be questioned as well as Punjab govt. Punjab govt. is the most careless govt in Pakistan. They don't realized over 100 million people live in Punjab province they should be better served by the punjab govt.
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Jan 06, 2017 12:13pm
Why can't they wait a little it's not more than their lives.
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Jan 06, 2017 12:26pm
Really Sad ....
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Jan 06, 2017 12:28pm
Careless rickshaw driver, were you expecting train to stop for you if you are colliding ?
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Jan 06, 2017 12:42pm
sad! deep condolences to the bereaved families. Little buds perished for somebody's negligence.
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Jan 06, 2017 12:48pm
A REALLY SAD INCIDENTS. RIP
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Jan 06, 2017 01:00pm
RIP
This can not be undone..
Have we any plan for tomorrow so that this will not happen again.
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Jan 06, 2017 01:18pm
Where is the gate closing and signalling system? In a self respecting country, the officials and minister would resign with shame, but in our country the officials and ministers have no shame. Besides, its only the poor people who die needlessly due to irresponsible attitude of our public organizations. Its simply pathetic!
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Jan 06, 2017 01:20pm
RIP....
And shame on the Government...even not bother to put the gates on the train track.
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Jan 06, 2017 02:07pm
Extremely sad episode. No one can gauge the pain and grief of the affected parents. Railways, Punjab government and Lodhran administration must ensure that all the unmanned crossings are properly gated and managed.
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Jan 06, 2017 03:13pm
Deep Condolence! Every one should behave like a responsible citizen, responsible for their own lives...
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Jan 06, 2017 03:33pm
Very painful and tragic incident, Government should must remove all level crossings on railwaylines and parents may also see some safe and appropriate mode of travelling for pick and drop of their children.
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Jan 06, 2017 05:16pm
As part of CPEC,the Pakistan government should ask China to fund and erect gates at railway crossing all over Pakistan.
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Jan 06, 2017 05:21pm
Rickshaw drivers are too rude, risky, and careless particularly in southern Punjab. RIP innocent souls.
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Jan 06, 2017 10:04pm
Railways minister will not resign as it's never his fault... This is the 7th train crash under his leadership
Only in Pakistan do fools run govt and it's ministries whilst innocents die due to their negligence and corruption
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Jan 07, 2017 10:06pm
I don't see any corruption in this accident . It's Driver fault misjudgment stupidity and so on and on but no corruption involved. We as a nation have a habit of blaming others for our mistakes . We are getting worst than animal even they have street sense.
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Jan 08, 2017 06:35am
May God provides a haven to these innocent souls. May God provides comfort who lost their love ones. Are we corrupt, or irresponsible nation? PM must ask the Railways minister to resign.
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