Two train collision kills at least 36 in Pakistan

About thirty people have been killed and a hundred injured on Monday when two trains collided in the province of Sindh, in southern Pakistan, according to local media.

Rescue teams fear that the death toll will rise as passengers are still trapped in the carriages and the absence of adequate machinery has delayed rescue efforts.

The accident, which has paralyzed rail traffic across the country, highlights the poor maintenance of a century and a half old network.

According to the Pakistan Railways (PR) spokesperson, Nazia Jabeen, the accident occurred shortly after 3.30 in the morning local time when the Millat Express that had left Karachi, the capital of Sindh, heading to Sarghoda 1,200 kilometers further north, it derailed and fell onto the other track.

This caused it to collide with the Sir Syed Express coming from Rawalpindi, in the vicinity of the Raiti station, in the Ghotki district, still within the province of Sindh.

"The driver tried to use the emergency brake, but the locomotive hit the wagons crossed on the track," the statement said.

In total, 900 people traveled in the damaged convoys.

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Between 15 and 20 passengers were trapped in the overturned cars of the Millat Express at the end of the morning, according to Ghotki Police Superintendent Umar Tufail, quoted by

Dawn

newspaper

. Authorities were trying to send heavy machinery to rescue them, but Turail feared the death toll would rise, as one of the cars was still inaccessible.

According to this policeman, there are already 36 bodies recovered and there are still four more that they have not been able to access.

Previously, the spokeswoman for the railways had said that two of the 31 bodies arrived at the hospitals were those of PR employees.

The Army has sent troops and ambulances with medical personnel to help with the tasks.

In addition, a team of military engineers traveled to the area by helicopter to collaborate in the dismantling of the remains of the train.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has declared himself "shocked" by the accident.

“I have asked the Minister of Railways to go to the site and ensure medical assistance for the wounded and support for the families of the dead.

[Also] ordered a full investigation into the security flaws, "he tweeted.

Shocked by the horrific train accident at Ghotki early this morning leaving 30 passengers dead.

Have asked Railway Minister to reach site & ensure medical assistance to injured & support for families of the dead.

Ordering comprehensive investigation into railway safety faultlines

- Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 7, 2021

By then, the Pakistani media was already broadcasting testimonies from PR employees criticizing the state of the network.

"The track has problems at various points, the wagons are old, some are 40 years old," Khalid Latif told Geo News television, according to Reuters.

"Several times I have said to the high command 'please do something about it," added this railroad.

In fact, accidents are common in an infrastructure that the British built in the second half of the 19th century and that cries out for modernization. In the same district that now there was a crash in 2005 that left 130 people dead when a crowded train of passengers collided with another that was stopped at a station and a third struck damaged cars. In July last year at least 19 people were killed and 15 others injured when a train struck a passenger bus in Punjab province.

Also the information minister, Fawad Chaudhry acknowledged that the system "needs a review for a long time."

But successive governments have not obtained the necessary funding.

Some officials were confident that China would offer help as part of its new

Silk Road,

which has already led it to invest in various infrastructure and energy projects in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, only moderate-income citizens resort to the train, as it is maddeningly slow and those who can afford it travel by bus on short journeys and by plane on long journeys.