Four die as bus crashes into freight train in Pattoki

PATTOKI: Four people were killed and 18 others were injured when a freight train crashed into a passenger bus at Landa railway crossing in Pattoki town of Kasur district, ARY News reported on Friday.

The incident took place when a passenger bus heading from Dholan to Theng Chak No. 7 was collided with a freight train at the railway crossing.

Four people Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Nadeem, Mohammad Waseem and Aneeq-ur-Rehman were killed in the collision, while 18 people were injured in the incident.

The injured were shifted to hospitals in Pattoki and Lahore for medical attendance.

According to reports, the duty in-charge at Landa railway crossing was asleep and did not close the crossing gate for traffic while a freight train passing through the point.

The locals arrived at the scene and staged protest against the Railways officials.

Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique took notice of the train crash and suspended the gate keeper and duty in-charge at the railway crossing for negligence. He also ordered the police to arrest and file a case against the railways official.

The minister also announced a compensation of Rs. 1 million to the families of each deceased and Rs. 0.3 million for every injured.