ISLAMABAD: Last month’s Tezgam Express tragedy in Liaquatpur which left at least 73 passengers dead, echoed at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways on Wednesday, which expressed deep concern over inadequate measures taken by the Pakistan Railways for safety of passengers.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Mohammad Mueen Wattoo, observed that passenger safety measures taken by the Pakistan Railways were not compatible with safety steps adopted by other countries of the world.

The committee unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the Pakistan Railways to take necessary measures for safety of passengers.

While briefing the committee on the accident, Railways Secretary Sikandar Sultan Raja said that 75 passengers had lost their lives in the tragedy. He said that 63 bodies of the victims had been handed over to their relatives while the bodies of 12 passengers would be handed over to their relatives over the next two to three days.

Minister for Railways Shaikh Rashid Ahmad said that he had requested the prime minister to announce more relief for the victims of the accident.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019