Pakistan: Around 30 dead, 80 injured as Hazara Express derails near Sahara Railway Station

At least 15 people died and 40 sustained injuries after ten coaches of Rawalpindi-bound Hazara Express derailed near Sahara Railway Station, located between Shahzadpur and Nawabshah on Sunday.

The wounded passengers have been shifted to a nearby hospital. The cause of the derailment remains unknown at this time.Rescue teams and police have rushed to the spot. Rescue operation is underway.

The Hazara Express was headed to Rawalpindi from Karachi and the accident took place near the Sarhari Railway Station in Nawabshah area.

Benazirabad Division Commissioner Abbas Baloch said in a statement that at least 30 died in the incident while passengers are still stranded in a bogie of the Havelian-bound Hazara Express.

He said a relief train is also about to arrive and emergency has been imposed in hospitals of the district.

Accidents on Pakistan’s decaying rail system are common and successive governments have for years been trying to secure funds to upgrade the rail network as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative for infrastructure projects.

The train operations to and from the interior districts of Sindh were suspended after the train crash, with railway authorities saying that it may take up to 18 hours to restore operations.

Authorities fear heavy material and life losses as the ill-fated train is said to be carrying a large number of people, even more than its capacity.

The train, comprising 17 bogies with a capacity of 950 passengers in its economy class and 72 in its air-conditioned standard coach, went off track on its way to Havelian from Karachi in district Sanghar, the senior superintendent of police said.

He said that 10 Station House Officers, four district superintendent of police (DSPs) and more than 100 police personnel are participating in rescue work.

A large number of police personnel from the Police Training Center are also present for relief work.

With inputs from agencies