660 railway accidents during last ten years
Railway has already seen two major attacks during the first 23 days of this year
LAHORE: (Daily Dunya) – Pakistan Railways has already seen two major accidents during the first 23 days of 2017 and the total number of accidents during the last 10 years has now risen to 660, reported Dunya News.
On January 6, Hazara Express train ran into two rickshaws at a manned level-crossing in Lodhran, killing eight, including six students. On Saturday, six more died in an accident that took place in Gojra.
Even in these modern times, Railways is unable to stop these train accidents at level-crossings. During the last ten years, 660 incidents of trains colliding with vehicles have occurred at various level-crossings, and hundreds have lost their lives while several became handicapped permanently.
It is pertinent to mention here that there is a total of 1535 unmanned level-crossings in Railways system while 1306 are manned.
Provincial govts responsible for expenses on level crossings: Saad
Holding a press conference at Railways Headquarters on the issue of Gojra train accident, Saad Rafique said that the accidents on level crossings always occurred because of the haste. In today’s accident also, the car drivers didn’t pay attention to the signal, he said.
The minister said that he and his employees were doing everything for improving the railways’ system but the expenses related to level crossings weren’t Railways’ responsibility. He said that it was provincial government’s responsibility and the department shouldn’t be held responsible for the level crossings’ expenses.
