Tezgam Tragedy: A Timeline Of 7 Major Train Accidents Since PTI Took Over

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tegam train
Image Source: Dawn

The Tezgam train accident is the latest tragedy in a series of ill-fated railroad journeys since the PTI government took over the government in September last year.

According to the Ministry of Railways, 74 train accidents had already occurred between August 2018 and June 2019.

1. Khushal Khan Khattak Express accident – 16 September 2018

Source: Dawn

Peshawer-bound Khushal Khan Khattak Express was de­­railed in a hilly area between the Massan Railway Station and Sawan Bridge. 21 passengers were injured.

The accident had occurred because of the hilly rail track that was in need of repair but the authorities had not paid any heed.

2. Khushal Khan train derailment – 27 September 2018

Source: Times of Islamabad

10 bogies of Khushal Khan Khattak Express accidentally derailed near Sehwan. The train was going from Karachi to Peshawar. At least two people got injured in the accident.

3. Karachi-bound freight train – 9 June 2018

Source: The News

Twenty-three bogies of a Karachi-bound freight train derailed in the Dabar area of Sukkur.

4. Lasani Express – School van accident – 18 December 2018

Source: Geo News

The Lasani Express collided with a school van on Sialkot-Lahore track near Narowal owing to intense fog.

The van was carrying 30 students, out of them, 16 got injured.

5. Jinnah Express collision – 20 June 2019

Source: Geo News

Jinnah Express was going from Karachi to Lahore when it collided with the stationary freight train near Latifabad area of Hyderabad. 

The train’s driver, assistant driver and a guard lost their lives during the accident while the passengers remained safe.

6. Akbar Express tragedy – 11 July 2019

Source: Samaa

Akbar Express hit a parked cargo train at the Walhar Railway Station in Rahim Yar Khan. It was traveling from Rawalpindi to Quetta.

24 people perished and over 100 received injuries.

The accident occurred because the train switched on the wrong track. Its engine and six bogies were completely destroyed.

7. Tezgam train accident – 31 October 2019

The Tezgam train was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi, when a gas cylinder inside one of the bogies reportedly exploded. 

Read: Pakistanis Are Furious After Sheikh Rasheed Blames Passengers For Tezgam Train Accident

More than 70 people were confirmed dead and over 40 were injured.

“A huge fire erupted in an economy class bogie of Tezgam train when it was crossing through Chani Goth area lying within the jurisdiction of Tehsil Liaquatpur of Rahimyar Khan district. The fire engulfed three bogies in total, including one economy class and two business class bogies.”

– Ameer Taimore Khan, Dstrict Police Officer of Rahimyar Khan district.

The Pakistan Army deployed doctors and paramedics to the site to assist local rescue teams.