LAHORE, Feb 22: Muhammad Saeed was among the 78 relatives of the victims of Samjhota Express tragedy who were granted visas by Indian authorities in Lahore on Thursday.

A resident of Karachi’s Korangi area, Saeed had come to the makeshift office of the Indian High Commission in Lahore without a passport to seek a visa so that he could reach his three relatives who were among the train fire victims.

Saeed was issued a passport by Pakistani authorities within an hour while the Indian authorities took 50 minutes or so to grant him a visa.

“I am told that Saeed has crossed over to India and boarded one of the buses made available by the Indian authorities to take these people to the three cities across the borders,” Assistant Consulate MK Mustafi of Indian High Commission said.

Another seven relatives of the victims visited the makeshift office with no valid passports. “They will be getting passports on Friday (today) and granted visas,” he said.

Some six people also visited the makeshift office for the grant of visit visas to India. “Sir, we are here only to grant 10-day emergency visas for Panipat, Ambala and Delhi to the relatives of the victims of Samjhota tragedy. You will have to go to Islamabad for a visit visa,” the Indian official told them.