RAHIM YAR KHAN: A train driver and his assistant were injured when Shalimar Express collided with a freight train near Jetha Bhutta Railway Station, some 56km from here, on Saturday.

The accident took place in front of Hamza Sugar Mills when locomotive of 27-up Shalimar Express collided with 502-down goods train loaded with cement blocks.

According to Pakistan Railway sources, the accident took place when the passenger train was changing the track through a computerised signal and its speed was very low. After the accident, both up and down tracks were blocked and rail traffic from both sides was suspended.

The front trolley of the locomotive of Shalimar Express and two wagons of the goods train were derailed and two coaches of the passenger train and as many wagons of goods train were damaged.

After the accident, Pakis-tan Railways Chief Execu-tive Officer Dost Ali Leghari suspended Divi-sional Transportation Officer of Multan Naseer Niazi and Divisional Signals Engineer of Multan Khizar Hayat from service and ordered an inquiry into the accident and action against them according to the law.

Railways spokesperson Quratulain said the accident occurred at 4:10pm and relief trains from Samasata and Rohri had been dispatched to the site of the accident.

Railway rescue teams were going to the accident site and relief operation would be completed as soon as possible, she said.

The driver and assistant driver, who had received minor injuries, were given first aid.

The spokesperson said CEO Leghari had formed a three-member inquiry committee, which has been tasked with submitting its report to the CEO within 48 hours.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2020