A passenger train en route from Karachi to Abbottabad derailed, claiming the lives of at least 15 people, as reported by the country’s railways minister. The harrowing accident also left around 50 individuals injured, according to Muqarrab Khan, a local police officer from the Sanghar district.
The Hazara Express, comprising eight coaches, met with the unfortunate derailment near Sahara railway station, about 275 km (170 miles) away from Karachi. Disturbing images from the scene depict numerous people trying to assist passengers by smashing windows and helping them escape the twisted carriages, with one coach found overturned.
This catastrophe once again highlights the frequent accidents and derailments that occur on Pakistan’s antiquated railway system. Past incidents such as the deadly train collision in Daharki in June 2021, resulting in the loss of at least 65 lives and injuring about 150 others, remind us of the urgency to address the safety and modernization of the country’s rail network.
