14 of family killed in train-rickshaw collision

SHEIKHUPURA : Fourteen members of a family were killed and three others critically injured when a speeding train hit a rickshaw at an unmanned level-crossing near Khanpur village on Saturday. According to Rescue 1122 and police, an ill-fated family of village Daowdkey Khanpur was going to participate in Urs celebrations of Shah Sheen Bukhari by a rickshaw when Lahore-bound Karakoram Express hit the rickshaw at a level-crossing near Khanpur village. As a result, 14 including rickshaw driver died on the spot while three others sustained serious injuries. The injured were shifted to DHQ hospital by Rescue 1122 where their condition was stated to be critical.

The dead include: Waseem (driver), Mukhtar Ahmad, Rani Bibi, Shazia Bibi, Rabia, Nasira and Irum while the identity of others is yet to be established.According to eye-witnesses, the tragic incident happened due to sheer negligence of the rickshaw driver who without realising the speed and might of the train tried to cross the level-crossing.

On information, DS Railway Hameed Razi, DCO Ali Jan Khan, DPO Hamyun Bashir Tarar and rescue teams reached the spot.  The DS and the DCO supervised the rescue operation. Rescue 1122 and civil defence teams shifted the bodies and the victims to DHQ hospital.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain have sought a report on the incident.

PML-N MNA Hamza Shahbaz expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives in the incident and ordered  action against the responsible.
Talking to APP, DS Railways Hameed Razi said unmanned railway crossings had been established on the demand of people of the area and it was their own responsibility to take precautionary measures. He added an inquiry into the tragic incident had been started on the orders of the federal railway minister.

President Asif Ali Zardari Saturday expressed deep shock and grief over the death of 14 people who were killed at an unmanned railway crossing in Sheikhupura by an express train. The President in a message to the bereaved families expressed grief over the tragic incident that claimed lives of women and children. He prayed to Allah Almighty to shower his blessings on those who lost their lives and for courage to the families to bear the loss of their loved ones with fortitude.