Sadiqabad railway accident

Sadiqabad rail accident
Details
Date	11 July 2019 (2019-07-11) 4:30 am
Location	Walhar railway station, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab
Coordinates	28.2015°N 69.9906°E / 28.2015; 69.9906
Country	Pakistan
Statistics
Trains	2
Deaths	24

The Sadiqabad railway accident occurred on 11 July 2019 in Rahim Yar Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. The Quetta-bound Akbar Express collided with a cargo rake at Walhar railway station (parked at the passing loop), due to improper handling of the track switching mechanism.[1][2][3][4] The accident took place around 4:30 a.m. (Pakistan Standard Time), about 35 kilometres (22 mi) south of the district headquarters of Rahim Yar Khan and the train engines were completely destroyed.[2][3]

Relief operations were launched immediately and a medical emergency was declared at nearby hospitals.[5][4] An inquiry has been ordered and proportionate compensation for the victims were announced by the railway ministry.[6][7] Whilst the unaffected coaches of the train left for its destination, regular traffic along the stretch of ML1 route was suspended.[2][5]

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political leaders offered their condolences;[8] the opposition noted such accidents to be a recurring event in the recent past and sought for the resignation of the incumbent Rail Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad.[7][9][10]

Twenty-four passengers were killed.[11]

References

1. "Pakistan rail accident: Nine killed, 70 injured after passenger train crashes into freight carriage in Punjab province". Firstpost. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
2. "11 killed, 58 injured in Sadiqabad train crash | Samaa Digital". Samaa TV. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
3. "Several dead and dozens injured in Pakistan train collision". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
4. "Sixteen killed, several injured as two trains collide in Sadiqabad". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
5. "11 killed, over 60 injured in train accident near Sadiqabad". www.radio.gov.pk. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
6. "شیخ رشید کا جاں بحق افراد کے لواحقین کیلئے 15 لاکھ کا اعلان". jang.com.pk. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
7. AP, Amir Kayani | Adnan Sheikh | (2019-07-11). "At least 10 killed, 85 injured as two trains collide in Sadiqabad". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
8. Hassan, Syed Raza (11 July 2019). "Train crash kills 11 people in Pakistan with prime minister blaming railway 'neglect'". The Independent. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
9. Tribune.com.pk (2019-07-11). "At least 11 dead, 60 injured in Sadiqabad train accident". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
10. "Bilawal calls on Sheikh Rashid to resign after Sadiqabad accident | Samaa Digital". Samaa TV. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
11. Fahad, Muhammad (12 July 2019). "Inquiry report to be finalized of Sadiqabad train accident". The Financial Daily. Retrieved 13 July 2019.