Two express trains collided in Sindh’s Ghotki today. At least 50 passengers have lost their lives, and 100 others are injured. The Millat Express derailed and the Sir Syed Express train hit it soon afterwards, railways officials confirmed, saying that the collision took place between the Raiti and Obaro railway stations. In 2019,BBC published a report stating, “historical data from Pakistan Railways shows there were 757 train accidents between 2012 and 2017. That’s an average of about 125 incidents a year.”
Sheikh Rashid served as the Railway Minister from August 20, 2018, to December 14, 2020. A total of seven major train incidents happened during his tenure. At present, Azam Khan Swati is the Railway Minister. The present train accident in Ghotki has happened during Swati’s tenure.
Timeline of major railways accidents during the tenure of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI):
June 7,2021: Ghotki
At least 32 people were killed and 64 injured after two express trains collided in Sindh’s Ghotki.
Feb 28, 2020: Rohri
At least 19 people were killed when a train collided with a passenger bus near Sindh’s Rohri.
October 31, 2019: Rahim Yar Khan
More than 70 people died in a fiery explosion on a moving train, which officials later blamed on a short-circuit fire. The incident occurred near Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab.
July 11, 2019: Sadiqabad
A Quetta-bound train collided with a cargo train near Sadiqabad in Punjab, killing 24 and injuring over a 100. The accident was later found to the result of a delay in the switching of train tracks.
June 20, 2019: Makli Shah
Three people were killed when a passenger train collided with a stationary cargo train at Makli Shah, near Hyderabad.
December 18, 2018: Narowal
12 children were injured when a passenger train crashed into a school van near Narowal, Punjab. Eyewitnesses said the accident happened due to dense fog and because the gate at the crossing was left open.
September 27, 2018: Sehwan
A Peshawar-bound train had derailed in Sehwan, Sindh, due to which 11 bogies overturned.
September 16, 2018: Attock
Nine bogies of the Peshawar-bound Khushal Khan Khattak Express from Karachi derailed near Attock. 20 passengers were injured.
June 9, 2018: Sukkur
Twenty-three bogies of a Karachi-bound freight train derailed in Sukkur.
People are recalling the words of Prime Minister Imran Khan when he said, “Anywhere in the world when a train accident occurs, the railway minister resigns. Until the minister doesn’t resign, the inquiry doesn’t process properly.”
