2023 Hazara Express derailment
Details
Date6 August 2023
13:18 PKT
LocationBetween Shahdadpur and Nawabshah, Sindh
Coordinates26°09′33″N 68°27′04″E / 26.15917°N 68.45111°E / 26.15917; 68.45111
CountryPakistan
LineKarachi–Peshawar Line
OperatorPakistan Railways
Incident typeTrain derailment
Statistics
TrainsHazara Express
DeathsAt least 30
InjuredOver 100

On 6 August 2023, at 13:18 PKT (08:18 UTC), ten coaches of the Hazara Express travelling from Karachi to Rawalpindi in Pakistan derailed near Nawabshah, in Sindh. At least 30 people were killed and more than 100 were injured.[1][2][3]

Background

Due to outdated systems, some of which have not been updated since the colonial era,[4] crashes and derailments on Pakistan's railways are not uncommon.[2] The government has faced criticism for neglecting the signal systems and aging tracks.[5] Residents said the tracks remained in bad condition after the 2022 floods.[6] A day earlier, the Allama Iqbal Express derailed near Padidan without casualties.[7] The 2021 Ghotki rail crash also took place in the same province.[8] According to local reports from 2013 to 2019, 150 people died in train incidents.[2]

Incident

At 13:18 PKT (08:18 UTC),[8] ten coaches of the Hazara Express derailed near Sarhari railway station, between Shahdadpur and Nawabshah, en route from Karachi to Sargodha. The train was carrying around 1,000 passengers.[8] The injured went to the nearby Peoples Medical College Hospital in Nawabshah and operations on the main rail were halted as repair crews arrived.[8] Investigators are determining the cause.[4]

Aftermath

Rescue 1122, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Army, Rangers and police conducted relief and rescue operations at the crash site.[9] Benazirabad Deputy Inspector General of Police Younis Chandio said that nine out of ten wrecked coaches had been cleared of the dead and injured.[8]

Investigation

Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that no faults had been reported on the stretch of line where the crash happened, and ordered an investigation.[10] A preliminary report submitted by a six-member team on 8 August 2023 stated that metal fishplates connecting the rails at the accident site were missing and that a section of track had been replaced with wood.[11] The report also noted that wheels on the locomotive were damaged and that sabotage could not be ruled out. Six employees, including three officials, were later suspended.[12] On 9 August 2023, Rafique disclaimed earlier reports that fishplates were missing and that wood had been used for repairs. The main cause of the accident, he said, was two stuck locomotive wheels and a damaged section of track.[13]

Reactions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted: "I have sought a report on the incident from railway authorities."[8] Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah tweeted: "My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the deceased passengers. The injured should be provided with the best healthcare facilities in the hospitals."[8]

References

  1. ↑ "At least 30 killed and 80 injured in Pakistan train derailment". ABC News (Australia). 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Walsh, Aoife (6 August 2023). "Pakistan passenger train derails killing 30". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. ↑ Ali, Z (6 August 2023). "35 perish, 100 injured as 10 bogies of Hazara Express derail". The Express Tribune. Pakistan. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 Tanveer, Asim (6 August 2023). "Express train derails in southern Pakistan, killing 30 people and injuring more than 90". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "A timeline of major train accidents in the past two decades". Dawn. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Hazara Express: investigators scour wreckage after deadly train crash in Pakistan". Business Recorder. Agence France-Presse. 7 August 2023. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Train derails near Padidan". Dawn. Pakistan Press International. 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Khan, Mohammad Hussain (6 August 2023). "At least 30 killed, several injured as train derails near Nawabshah". Dawn. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "30 dead, over 80 injured in train accident near Nawabshah". The News International. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Hazara Express mishap: Railways minister directs for investigation". BOL News. 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Missing fishplates, damaged track caused train derailment in Pakistan: report". The Hindu. 8 August 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  12. ↑ Mehto, Zulfiqar (8 August 2023). "Pakistan Railways suspends 6 officials in wake of Hazara Express train tragedy". Samaa TV. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Six officials sacked over Hazara express tragedy". The Express Tribune. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
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