Three killed, many injured as trains collide near Hyderabad

KARACHI: At least three people, a train driver and two assistant drivers, were killed and several others injured after a passenger train collided with a freight train near Hyderabad on Thursday, ARY News reported.

Sources said that Lahore bound Jinnah Express, which had departed from Karachi collided with a stationary freight train in the limits of Maki Shah police station in Hyderabad.The cargo train was carrying coal to Yusufwala.

Three coaches of the freight train derailed due to the impact of the collision while engine of passenger train caught fire after the incident, the sources added.

Police and rescue officials rushed to the scene after being informed about the accident and initiated rescue operation. Rescue officials shifted the bodies and the injured to Liaquat University Hospital’s city branch for medical treatment.

Pakistan Railways regretted over the causalities in the accident today,  said Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed  adding that all the passengers of Jinnah Express were safe.

Giving  details about the incident, Sheikh Rasheed said that Jinnah Express, which had departed from Karachi for Lahore rammed into a stationary freight train near Hyderabad.

The minister said a driver and two assistant drivers were killed in the accident. He said that the officials had cleared the railway track and added that the Jinnah Express was on its way to Lahore.

Sheikh Rasheed said he had directed PR’s chief executive officer to launch investigations into the accident and submit the reported within 24 hours.

The minister said that he would give his decision about the accident on June 22.