Landslide suspends train services in Attock’s Jand area, stranding passengers

ATTOCK: Train operations on the Attock-Mari Indus-Multan section were temporarily halted on Friday after heavy rain triggered a landslide between the Jhamat and Chhab railway stations in Jand tehsil, blocking the track and leaving passengers waiting for hours.

According to an official from the track maintenance department, rainwater caused mud and debris to slide onto the railway line, leading authorities to suspend services as a precaution. One train was stranded near Tunnel No. 129, while the 202-Up passenger train was stopped at Jhamat Railway Station.

The disruption affected hundreds of travellers, including women, children and elderly passengers. Several passengers said the prolonged stoppage created difficulties because of limited basic facilities on board and uncertainty over when trains would start moving again.

Passenger Zahura Batool said safety was important but passengers also needed essential support during emergencies.

“We understand that safety comes first, but passengers should be provided with drinking water and timely updates during emergencies”, she stated.

Another passenger, Bisma Khattak, said families travelling with children were among those most affected by the delay.

“Many people had not prepared for a long stop. There should be arrangements for water and refreshments when trains are stranded”, she stated.

Passenger Sanaullah Niazi also called for a stronger emergency response from railway authorities and said regular communication would ease concerns among stranded travellers.

“Passengers are anxious because they do not know how long the delay will last. Regular announcements would help reduce concerns”, he stated.

Track cleared after emergency response

Railway officials said emergency maintenance teams were dispatched immediately to remove the debris and restore operations. A railway official said technical staff worked for hours to clear the line and ensure it was safe before traffic was allowed to resume.

“The track was blocked due to rain-induced landsliding. Our technical staff has worked continuously for hours to remove the debris and ensure the safety of train operations before allowing traffic to resume”, they said.

Officials said the track was cleared on Friday evening after a final safety inspection. No deaths or injuries were reported in the incident.

Earlier disruption in the area

The incident underscored the difficulties rail operations face during the monsoon period, especially in hilly and mountainous terrain where intense rainfall can trigger landslides and interrupt transport links.

In April, another train was forced to stop after a landslide blocked the railway track between Jhalar and Salmanabad stations in the Kala Chitta mountain range, around 25 kilometres from Attock. Railway officials had said at the time that heavy rain and severe weather caused large boulders to fall onto the track.