GUJRANWALA, Oct 22: At least five bogies of an express train derailed near old city railway station due to signal system malfunction here on Monday. However, no loss of life was reported.

The 7-Up Rail Car was on its way from Lahore to Rawalpindi. When it was approaching old city railway station, the cabin man could not shunt the signal properly as a result of which five bogies of the train derailed. The cabin man fled after the accident, which caused suspension of railway traffic between Lahore and Rawalpindi for over an hour.

Driver Sikandar Khan said the train went on wrong track due to cabin man’s fault. He said he applied emergency brakes and controlled the situation.

The accident took place in a very congested area, which is also hub of commercial activities. The GT Road runs alongside the railway track at a distance not more than 10 to 20 yards throughout the city and the accident could have caused a heavy loss of life and property if emergency brakes were not applied on time. A departmental inquiry has been initiated to fix the responsibility.