At least 34 people were killed and over 120 injured Thursday in two separate accidents in Pakistan, including one in which an express train rammed into a stationery freight train in Punjab province.
In the first accident, at least 13 people were killed and 34others injured after a speeding passenger bus overturned near Pakistan’scapital city Islamabad.
The bus was going to Lahore from Swat when the accident tookplace at an interchange near Hassan Abdaal, about 45 km from Islamabad, policesaid.
The second accident happened when the Quetta-bound AkbarExpress collided with the stationary freight train at the Walhar RailwayStation in Sadiqabad Tehsil of the province, Dawn quoted officials as saying.
The freight train was on the loop line when the speedingpassenger train instead of running on the main line entered the wrong track.
The regional police officer (RPO) in the area said rescueteams, using hydraulic cutters, have now recovered all the dead and woundedfrom the wreckage and completed their operation.
The RPO said 21 people were killed and 89 others injured inthe accident.
The engine of the Akbar Express was completely destroyed inthe accident while three compartments were also damaged, police said.
The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals ofSadiqabad and Rahim Yar Khan for treatment where an emergency has beendeclared, Geo news reported.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi haveexpressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the train accident.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Khan said he has asked RailwaysMinister to take emergency steps to counter decades of neglect of railwayinfrastructure and ensure safety standards.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has ordered aninvestigation into the accident.
He said that the accident appeared to have occurred due tohuman negligence.
He announced compensation of Rs 15 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh each for the injured, Dawn reported. PTI