BAHAWALPUR, July 6: A Rawalpindi-bound Pakistan Express stranded at the Bahawalpur railway station for more than five hours as the locomotive failed here on Friday.

Sources said the train had already set off 14 hours late from Karachi railway station. When it reached the district, the locomotive broke down. Passengers protested at the railway station and blocked the Karachi-Lahore railway track for three hours.

The sight of a locomotive (brought from the Sammasatta railway junction) initially placated the protesters but they again let loose their indignation at the powers that be when it disappeared after dropping a mechanic. They also tried to stop 2-Down Khyber Mail going to Karachi from Lahore but the guards prevented their bid.

The repair work took five hours, allowing the train to resume journey.

DOCTORS: As many as 50 doctors have been recruited in Bahawal Victoria Hospital here on Friday.

MS Dr Irshad Ahmed said the new recruits would join duty in a day or so.

Meanwhile, the YDA continued strike. — Correspondent