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Title: I killed, 24 injured in train derailment

(Updated at 1745 PST) (Pakistan)

KARACHI: At least one passenger was killed and 24 injured when a train derailed in a remote area near Jhampir town, railway officials and ambulance sources said.

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/apr2000-daily/04-04-2000/main/update.htm#11

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 04, 2000

Answers

Shalimar Express tragedy

Title: Worried relatives of passengers throng Cantt, City stations

By Moosa Kaleem - April 5, 2000

KARACHI: Following the breaking out of the news of derailing of Shalimar Express, some 111 kms off Karachi, on Tuesday afternoon, a large number of people thronged to the City and Cantt railway stations to know about the welfare of their kith and kins travelling in the ill-fated locomotive.

The train had left the Cantt Station junction at 11.30 am on Tuesday. It derailed between Buradabad and Jhimpir stations. Pakistan Railways which established two-information booths at the two railway stations kept providing information about developments made to relatives of the ill-fated passengers. According to initial reports, three of the deceased passengers were residents of Buffer zone and Jamshed Quarters. According to Edhi Trust sources, about 30 injured passengers were brought to the city for medical aid.

It was further learnt that seven of the passengers, Khursheed Bano, Lateefa, Ishrat Sajjad, Kamal Khan and Syed Kamal, were later admitted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for medical treatment. The lists of injured were pasted outside the Cantt and City stations. After getting the news of derailment the Divisional Superintendent along with divisional officers of railway, immediately left for the site. Relief trains based at Karachi, Kotri and Rohri were summoned immediately and were sent to the site for relief operation.

Dozens of passengers of the ill-fated train were later brought to Karachi in the night. A railway officer said that passengers who arrived at Karachi and did not want to continue their journey further were later refunded against their tickets.

Due to the derailment, Up and Down tracks remained blocked for some seven hours, resulting in disruption of train traffic. The situation normalised at 8.30 pm. First train, Allama Iqbal Express left for upcountry from Karachi at 8.15 pm while among incoming trains Awami Express is expected to arrive first at 2 O' clock.

Meanwhile, labour leader Syed Manzoor Razi has expressed concern over the accident and termed it a result of the negligence of Pakistan Railways regarding the maintenance of the railway tracks. "Most of the derailing have occurred at the same place that is between Buradabad and Jhimpir stations which indicates the deteriorated condition of the tracks at the mentioned spot," he added.

The News International, Pakistan

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/apr2000-daily/05-04-2000/metro/k3.htm

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 05, 2000.