Monday’s tragic train crash near Nawabshah in Sindh province serves as a grim reminder of the pressing need for immediate action to review and enhance safety precautions across Pakistan’s railway network. With around 30 lives lost and nearly 80 individuals injured, this disaster stands as one of the country’s most devastating rail accidents in decades. It is incumbent upon the authorities to engage in a thorough investigation to fix the responsibility for this deadly derailment and also analysis of best practices and safety protocols in order to avert the recurrence of such heart-wrenching incidents.
The catastrophe unfolded when multiple carriages of the Hazara Express derailed near the Sarhari Railway Station. Preliminary investigations point towards broken tracks and missing fishplates as the likely culprits behind this horrific incident.
Disturbingly, this disaster comes hot on the heels of another near-tragedy involving the Allama Iqbal Express, which witnessed two bogies derailing near Padidan railway station a day earlier. While no lives were lost in this case, it underscores the precarious nature of the railway infrastructure.
Regrettably, Pakistan has borne witness to a series of high-casualty railway accidents over the past years, each leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The collision between two trains near Daharki in June 2021 stands as a stark example, leading to the loss of at least 65 lives and injuring around 150 others. In this instance, an express train veered off its designated track and was met with a catastrophic collision with an oncoming passenger train, mere moments later. The 2019 Tezgam train fire had resulted in the tragic deaths of more than 70 individuals due to a cooking gas cylinder explosion onboard.
It is imperative to recognize that for many citizens, train travel remains the most affordable means of intercity commuting. Consequently, the state shoulders the responsibility of ensuring the safety and comfort of its people during their journeys. However, Pakistan’s failure to adequately invest in the modernization of its railway network, a system inherited from the British colonial era, has significantly contributed to the prevailing vulnerabilities and hazards.
Pakistan maintains a massive railway network, comprising 7,791-kilometre-long route, which transports thousands of passengers across the country daily. There are major issues with track maintenance as well as the signaling system, while unmanned level crossings also pose a threat to public safety.
The government and the quarters concerned need to address the safety loopholes by installing an anti-train collision system across the network, though progress to this end has been slow. In fact, railways’ safety is one area where Pakistan and China can cooperate as the two nations are entering into the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The recent tragedy should serve as an urgent wake-up call for the authorities to prioritize comprehensive reforms and invest in upgrading the country’s railway infrastructure.
The need for stringent safety measures, regular maintenance, and advanced technology cannot be overstated. By harnessing lessons from past incidents and incorporating international best practices, Pakistan can mitigate the risks associated with train travel and offer its citizens a safer and more reliable mode of transportation.
By making significant investments in the modernization of the railway network, Pakistan can fulfill its duty to safeguard the lives and well-being of its citizens and prevent the recurrence of such heart-wrenching tragedies.
