Train to Pakistan

Published February 20, 2007

Bruised and burnt and lucky, passengers on-board the Delhi-Lahore Samjhota Express arrive at Wagah on Monday. It could have been far worse for them and for their relatives who anxiously awaited their arrival, or at least a word that they were safe. Amid the clicking of the cameras, the constant noise of the telephone calls, the remarks and statements flying in all directions, information arrived well behind schedule. Frankly, the calls for preventing the peace process from derailment made little sense to the scores whose only concern on the day was the safety of their dear ones.

…and from Pakistan

The peace seekers would take heart though from the fact that while the disturbing news about the disaster reached Lahore railway station, there were no desertions among those set to advance on India. The Lahore-Delhi Samjhota, delayed as it was by many hours, was jam-packed with 1,100 passengers crammed into bogeys with a capacity of 700 and carrying baggage that would last them ‘a hundred years’ in this fickle world.— Photos by Azhar Jafri

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