In a significant railway incident near Larkana Road Station on Sunday, the Shalimar Express collided with a stationary container train, resulting in derailments and disruption of train services. The collision took place in the early afternoon, raising concerns about railway safety protocols and operational management in the region. Initial investigations have been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident and to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The container train involved in the accident was parked on the loop line at Larkana Road Station, having arrived there at 1:05 pm. This train consisted of 29 wagons and was stationary at the time of the collision. Shortly after, at 1:32 pm, the Shalimar Express passed through the same station. Despite receiving warnings from the Sukkur railway control about red signals ahead, the driver of the Shalimar Express reportedly did not apply the brakes in time. This failure led the fast-moving passenger train to crash into the rear of the container train, triggering a serious derailment.
The impact was severe enough to cause the engine and the attached luggage van of the Shalimar Express to derail. Additionally, the last wagon of the container train was also forced off the tracks. Railway officials have confirmed that three more wagons from the container train were derailed as a result of the collision. This incident has forced the suspension of train movement on the up line, while operations on the down line are continuing as normal. The disruption has affected the regular schedule, causing delays and inconvenience to passengers and freight services alike.
Authorities have emphasized that a thorough investigation is underway to uncover all factors contributing to the accident. They have assured the public that detailed findings will be shared once the inquiry is complete. This accident follows a similar collision involving the Shalimar Express earlier the same day at Lakha Road station in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroz district. In that incident, the train crashed into a stationary goods train parked on a loop line, damaging two bogies and the engine of the express train.
Emergency response teams, including police and local administration officials, promptly arrived at the scene of the Lakha Road accident to assist the injured and manage the situation. Remarkably, the driver and assistant driver of the Shalimar Express survived the mishap, although the train’s guard sustained serious injuries. Local residents also played a crucial role by helping to evacuate the injured from the train before official rescue teams could arrive. Despite the damage, railway officials confirmed that train operations were not significantly affected following the incident at Lakha Road.
These back-to-back collisions involving the Shalimar Express have raised questions about railway signaling systems, driver response protocols, and overall safety measures on busy routes in Sindh. The ongoing investigations will likely focus on these aspects to improve operational safety and prevent future accidents. Meanwhile, railway authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and are working to restore full service on affected lines as quickly as possible.
