LAHORE: At least nineteen people have been killed as a train struck a passenger van at an unmanned railway crossing near Sheikhpura.
According to details, the Shah Hussain Express was going from Karachi to Lahore when it struck a van at an unmanned railway crossing between Farooqabad and Behali railway station.
A passenger van of Sikh pilgrims returning from Nankana Sahib was rammed by the train. District Police Officer (DPO) Sheikhupura confirmed that at least fifteen Sikhs were killed in the accident.
Rescue officials from both Railways and Rescue 1122 arrived on the scene of the accident. The bodies have been shifted to a local hospital and rescue operation has been completed.
Al least eight people have been injured in the accident, all of whom were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Sheikhupura. Railways authorities have cleared the track and train operation has resumed. According to a statement by Railways ministry, the divisional engineer was suspended following the accident.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has ordered authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for the accident. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar expressed sorrow at the loss of lives in the train accident and conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has also expressed grief and sorrow at the loss of precious lives and instructed to provide the best medical facilities to the injured. Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari termed the incident horrific.
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