NAROWAL: A series of stone-pelting incidents targeting moving passenger trains on the Lahore-Narowal railway section have resulted in injuries to 12 passengers over the past five months.

Among the victims is four-year-old Farah Akhtar, daughter of Muhammad Akhtar Butt, from Farooq Ganj. She was struck by a stone on Aug 6 while traveling aboard the Faiz Ahmed Faiz passenger train from Lahore.

Mr Butt said his young daughter was peering out of the train window when unidentified people hurled stones at the train between Badami Bagh and Shahdara railway stations. The stone hitting her face left her in critical condition. She faced breathing difficulties, and a fellow passenger administered CPR and initial aid. She was admitted to the Narowal District Headquarters Hospital. The stone had struck her near her right eye.

Another victim, 32-year-old Mohammad Faisal from Loharan neighborhood in Narowal, shared his experience of traveling on the Lathani Express train from Lahore to Narowal on Aug 3. Between Shahdara and Kotmulchand railway stations, some people threw shopping bags filled with mud into the compartment As and a result, Faisal and his own and fellow passengers’ clothes were dirtied.

Muhammad Ashraf is an employee of the Pakistan Railways residing in Railway Colony, Karachi Cantt. He said he was on duty as technical staff aboard the Allama Iqbal Express passenger train on July 6. Assailants pelted the train with stones near Mehta Suja railway station, leaving him injured.

He was initially taken to the Narowal DHQ Hospital before being transferred to the Sialkot DHQ Hospital in a critical condition.

Passengers Muhammad Afzal and Marwatullah highlighted the absence of first aid provisions for passengers on trains.

Marwatullah said the train guards had outdated and rusty first aid kits that could transmit infections rather than provide relief.

Kainat and Ambar Shahzadi said it was sad to see the lack of safety for passengers on the Lahore-Narowal railway section. They blamed the incompetence of railway administration and police in arresting those responsible for stone-throwing incidents, thereby failing to ensure secure travel for passengers.

Daily Passengers Association Chairman Hafiz Abdul Qayyum critcised the railway authorities for the lack of action against stone-pelting despite repeated appeals to railways divisional superintendent and other officials.

Javed Shah, Railway Traffic Inspector responsible for Lahore, Narowal, and Wazirabad railway section, told Dawn that banners are being displayed at all railway stations along the Lahore-Narowal route. These banners warn citizens against pelting stones at passenger trains, threatening legal action under terrorism charges. Similar announcements will be made in local mosques near the railway stations.

He said that the railway police posts in Shahdara and Narowal, along with Sialkot police station, have been tasked with arresting the culprits.

Divisional Superintendent of Railways Sufyan Dogra acknowledged complaints about stone-pelting incidents on passenger trains. He said he would direct the railway police to put an end to such incidents and arrest the responsible people.

Passengers have demanded that the chairman and IG of Pakistan Railwaysto ensure the safety of travelers.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2023