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Published 08 Aug, 2023 12:05pm

Track restored after Sahari accident, but train operations disrupted

The up track was restored 35 hours after the derailment of the Hazara Express, but train operations were still disrupted. The accident has affected the schedule of trains in Lahore.

Khyber Mail Express was the first train that went through the restored track, sources told Aaj News.

The derailment of the train left at least 30 people dead and several injured on August 6. The preliminary report has found that missing fishplates and a damaged track were the causes of accident.

Meanwhile, 18 out of the 29 bodies have been identified and handed over to the families in Sindh. At least 14 victims of the tragedy belonged to Tando Adam Khan.

The incident’s root cause lies in the “lack of resources”, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique told reporters in Lahore on Monday after the preliminary report was released.

He acknowledged that the possibility of an act of sabotage cannot be ruled out. Rafique stressed the need for the necessity of conducting a comprehensive investigation.

Rafique emphasised the imperative of investing in the railway system to ensure its long-term sustainability and enable timely maintenance. He also highlighted the need to transition from manual to automatic track maintenance.

Conversely, the initial joint certificate report concerning the train accident has been received by the Lahore Railway Headquarters.

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