SUKKUR, Aug 19: Railways inspector general of police Ahmed Nasim has said that security along tracks, from Karachi to Sukkur, has been beefed up to avert any mishap , with night patrolling and operating of pilot engines prior to night trains.

Addressing a press conference at the circuit house here on Wednesday after visiting the blast site at Nawabshah, he said that trained men and women, equipped with the latest devices and metal detectors, would be deployed in trains to search suspects.

He said that maximum resources would be utilized to ensure a safe journey for the 800 million people who travelled by train, and added that a joint strategy had been evolved in collaboration with the district police of the two railway divisions.

He said that detailed sessions had also been held with the additional inspector general of police, Sukkur region, and other senior railways officials to launch a joint strategy.

The Federal Finance Department had released Rs70 million for purchasing metal detectors to scan and search passengers and luggage at platforms and on trains, he said. He said that 5,500 wireless sets had been provided to the railway police by the federal government and 200 trained commandos had been recently deployed on various trains.

The Nawabshah explosions appeared to be act of terrorism, however, it would be ascertained in an ongoing inquiry, he said, asserting that every option would be examined.