Over 40 killed, 80 injured as passenger trains collide in Ghotki
Over forty passengers died and eighty others injured in a collision between two trains near Ghotki this morning.
According to Railways officials, Sir Syed Express collided with the Millat Express between Raiti and Obaro Railway stations and fourteen boggies derailed.
Police sources say four boggies of Millat Express completely destroyed in the accident. Relief and rescue efforts are in progress by Pakistan Army at the train incident site near Ghotki.
According to ISPR, Pakistan Rangers troops, Army Urban Search and Rescue team, carrying cutter, hydraulic spreaders, life locators and search cameras specially flown from Rawalpindi, are busy in relief and rescue efforts.
Rescue 1122 team from Rahim Yar Khan is also part of rescue operation and frame cutting of train is in progress to evacuate people inside boggies.
Most of the injured have been evacuated to hospitals of Rahim Yar Khan, Ghotki and Mirpur Mathelo.
Seriously injured people are being evacuated to Pano Aqil through helicopter.
Meanwhile, in a statement Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati said a joint rescue operation is underway at the site by Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Army, Rangers, District Administration, Rescue 1122 and Sindh Police.
He said steps are being taken to prevent occuring of such incidents in the future. President Arif Alvi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhary Fawad Hussain, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have also expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the trains accident.
Condoling with the bereaved families, they prayed for the departed souls. Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his grief and sorrow over the tragic trains accident at Ghotki.
In a tweet today (Monday), the Prime Minister asked the Minister for Railways to reach the site and ensure medical assistance to injured and support for the families of the dead.
Imran Khan also ordered comprehensive investigation into railway safety faultlines.
Source: Radio Pakistan