KARACHI: At least 17 people were killed and 40 injured after two trains collided in Karachi’s Landhi area early on Thursday morning, rescue sources said.
The incident occurred in Gaddafi Town Landhi at 7:18 AM when Zakaria Express collided with Fareed Express, reportedly due to wrong signal given to the driver of Zakaria Express. Three bogies of Zakaria Express were completely destroyed due to the collision.
According to SP Malir Farid Express was at Juma Goth Train station when Zakaria Express crashed into it after it was given a wrong signal.
16 bodies and 40 injured have been brought to Jinnah Hospital, said Dr. Seemi Jamali, Head of Emergency Department at Jinnah Hospital. “Many among the injured have head injuries and some are in critical condition,” she added.
The crash resulted in traffic jams, and ambulances carrying the injured got stuck on roads.
The injured are being transferred to Jinnah Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Civil Hospital, where emergency has been declared.
Fareed Express was coming to Karachi from Lahore, while the Zakaria Express had set off from Multan.
All trains from Karachi have been suspended till rescue work is completed. Trains on their way to Karachi will stopped at another station before they reach Landhi.
Minister Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has ordered an inquiry into the incident. He also announced Rs 1,000,000 as compensation for the dead and Rs 500,000 for the injured.