Sadiqabad train accident death toll reaches 24

SADIQABAD: The death toll of the horrific railway accident following a collision between Quetta bound Akbar Express and a freight train at Walhar Railway Station has risen to 24,  authorities said.

As more bodies are being recovered from the rubble and wounded passengers succumbing to injuries, the number of deaths continues to increase.

The accident took place around 4:15 am on Thursday when Akbar Express hit a parked freight train at the Walhar Railway Station.

Injured persons were shifted to the hospitals of Sadiqabad and Rahim Yar Khan where an emergency has been declared.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Rahim Yar Khan Jameel Ahmed has established a control room to provide necessary information to the victim families. The numbers of the control room are 068-9230109 and 0300-9402579.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said trains’ collision at Sadiqabad occurred due to human negligence and its inquiry report would be finalized today.

Rasheed has announced that 1.5 million rupees would be given as compensation for each deceased, 500,000 rupees each to critically injured and 200,000 rupees to each who received minor injuries.