HYDERABAD: The poor condition of Pakistan Railways’ infrastructure has once again come under scrutiny after two separate train derailments occurred on the same day in Hyderabad, raising serious concerns over passenger safety.
The first derailment occurred in the morning when three wagons of a freight train derailed near Hyderabad Junction, crashing into Platform No. 1 and severely damaging both the track and platform. The incident disrupted train services, halting several passenger and freight trains. While repair teams worked to restore the track, the train remained stranded for several hours.
Later in the evening, a bogie from the Pakistan Express, traveling from Karachi to Rawalpindi, derailed near the same junction. Quick actions by the train’s driver prevented a major disaster, though passengers panicked, and many jumped out of the train. Passengers, including women and children, were left sitting inside the derailed coach for over an hour in the scorching heat, with no facilities or proper assistance from railway staff. Eventually, they were asked to shift to another coach, but were left to manage their luggage on their own.
Frustrated passengers staged a protest, demanding accountability and a high-level inquiry into the incidents. Railway officials blamed years of neglect, with rusted tracks and worn-out equipment contributing to frequent derailments. Despite these issues, no substantial efforts have been made to overhaul the infrastructure.
The Pakistan Express resumed its journey with a delay of over two and a half hours, while the freight train had not departed by late night. Station Master Muhammad Siddiq declined to comment on the derailments, which follow a series of similar incidents at Kotri Railway Station in recent years.
