TAXILA: Two bogies including the power section of the 48 down Rehman Baba Express burnt after its power section caught fire due to short circuit near Taxila railway station on Wednesday, railway and rescue sources said.

According to railway authorities, as the Karachi-bound, 48 down Rehman Baba Express coming from Peshawar left Taxila railway station and reached near Museum road, the power section of the train caught fire which also engulfed the other bogie. As the fire spread, some passengers jumped from the moving train. Later, fire tenders of the local defence organisation and Rescue 1122, reached the spot and extinguished the fire. No loss of life was reported. Later, the train was dispatched while burnt coaches were towed to Taxila railway station. The Rawalpindi-Peshawar and Rawalpindi- Havelian track cleared the up and down tracks for other trains, which had been stopped at different stations after the incident.

Railway authorities present at the place of the incident announced that an inquiry of the incident would be initiated soon to ascertain the cause of the incident and departmental action against neglected staff.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2023