IT is a tragedy that people in our country do not learn from dreadful incidents in the past. It was believed that a cylinder had exploded in Tezgam express train near Rahimyar Khan in 2019, killing more than 70 people. Only recently I came across people still continuing with the practice.

While most countrymen seem to have forgotten that fateful day and the tragic incident in 2019, it is still fresh in my memory. Last month (Dec 22), I was travelling from Tando Adam to Rohri by Allama Iqbal express train. A contingent of a community of preachers was also on board the train.

Despite a ban on carrying gas cylinders by Pakistan Railways, members of the said contingent were carrying a gas cylinder with them. Was it logical to risk the lives of other people for one’s own convenience?

I went to a railway officer and complained about the cylinder. He ignored at first, but when I insisted, he ordered a police constable to check the coach. The passengers denied carrying a gas cylinder, but of course it was recovered from their possession.

The police constable took away that cylinder, but no other action was taken by the authorities concerned against the law-breakers. I tried many telephone numbers of the relevant authorities to lodge a complaint over the issue, but to no avail.

It is unfortunate that we have learnt nothing from the tragedies in the past; even in the recent past.

It is also a big question that how the people carrying a gas cylinder managed to cross the security check at the railway station to enter the train with that hazardous piece of cargo.

It clearly indicates that the authorities are still showing negligence and apparently do not care much about the precious lives of the passengers. The railway authorities should initiate an enquiry into this and punish the culprits so that the practice may come to an end.

Sumail Hussain
Larkana

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2022