Bolan accident victims refuse to board Jaffar Express despite free-of-cost tickets
At least 17 passengers had lost lives while 148 were injured
QUETTA (Dunya News) – Pakistan Railways on Wednesday has dedicated a counter to issue free-of-cost tickets to passengers of the ill-fated train that derailed near Bolan on November 17 only to see their refusal.
At least 17 passengers lost lives while 148 were injured in the accident who were shifted to different hospitals in Sibbi and Quetta. A special relief train shifted rest of the passengers back to Quetta.
The railways have put up a counter in Quetta however, passengers have refused to travel through the Jaffar Express.
Out of 148 injured, 70 were shifted to the Civil Hospital. As many as 25 travelers are still under treatment at the hospital. On the other hand, at least 79 were brought to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), 11 out of whom have been discharged.
Railways General Manager (GM) Javaid Anwar Bobak reviewed the accident site. At least 300 passengers were on board the express. Sources had said that failure of brakes as engine moved down a mountain caused the derailment.
Babok has said that the inquiry committee formed in the case would file a report within two days. He said that necessary evidences from the accident site have been collected for investigation.
He paid a visit to CMH and Civil Hospital to inquire about health conditions of the injured. On the occasion, while talking to the media the GM said that if need be patients would be shifted to other cities for better treatment.
He said that railways system in Balochistan would be changed accordingly with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). A new track would be laid to Peshawar from Quetta via Zhob in the first phase, he added.
At least four carriages and the engine of Jaffar Express were destroyed.
Pakistan Army had provided copters for assistance in rescue operation while Frontier Corps (FC) reached the site after learning about the news.
The incident comes five months after a special train carrying troops and military equipment derailed and fell from Chanawan Bridge in the eastern province of Punjab, killing more than fifteen army men.
READ MORE: 17 killed, 86 injured as Rawalpindi-bound train derails in Bolan
The incident occurred near the eastern town of Wazirabad as the train carried soldiers from southern Sindh province to the garrison town of Kharian.
Train accidents are common in Pakistan, where tracks and bridges are often poorly maintained and where drivers often disregard speed limits
