RAHIM YAR KHAN: Rail traffic was suspended on the both tracks near Chak 77-P, Tranda Sawaye Khan, some 6kms from here, on Monday when a bogie of a goods train derailed.

According to sources, a bogie of a goods train – No.7176 – loaded with containers was en route to Karachi from Lahore got derailed near the level crossing at Chak 77-P while changing track.

As per locals, who witnessed the incident, the train’s speed was very slow when the bogie derailed.

Rahim Yar Khan Station Master Maqbool Ahmed told Dawn that the rail traffic was suspended on both tracks because of the derailment.

He said after the incident, Hazara Express (down) was halted at Kotsamaba and Shalimar (both up and down) would be halted at Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur railway stations, respectively.

He said that a rescue train that was used to clear the tracks following the derailment of eight goods train bogies on April 3, and was already present at Taranda Sawaye Khan and Kotsamaba section, was immediately called to the spot.

He said the crane had started clearing the tracks and the rail traffic would be restored as soon as the operation was completed.

Four bogies of a goods train had derailed on February 27, 2018 near Chak 78-P, a kilometer away from the spot of fresh derailment.

A Pakistan Railways spokesperson, Quratul Ain, had claimed earlier that the rail traffic on the both tracks would be restored at 3.30pm but it was not restored till filing of this report.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2019