Four die as train rams into car in Pattoki

PATTOKI: At least four people were killed when their car was hit by a passenger train in a railway track near Pattoki on Tuesday.

According to sources, the car was crossing Landa railway track in Pattoki when a fast-moving passenger train, which was bound for Kara­chi, hit it. It was coming from Lahore. The four people died on the spot.

Meanwhile, rescue teams and police reached the spot and shifted the bodies to the nearby hospital for legal formalities. The victims were identified as Amir, Adnan, Asadullah, and Saleem.

Soon after the incident, the area residents staged a protest and blocked the railway track demanding the provincial government to take notice of the incident. They claimed the incident occurred due to the negligence of the railways staff.

The protesters said the killer fenceless tracks of Pakistan Railways runs through the most populated areas of the province and kills several of locals every year.

They further stated despite continuing demands, the Pakistan Railways has not been able to fence its main rail track to save precious lives.

Punjab Chief Usman Buzdar summoned report from concerned officials and expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives in the Pattoki train-car accident.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed also took notice of the incident and has sought a detailed inquiry report from Chief Executive Officer of the railways.