The rail traffic from upcountry to Sindh and vice versa was suspended for three hours due to 14 blasts at different locations between the Bin Qasim and Ghotki railway stations in the wee hours of Saturday.
All the 14 blasts took place between 5:30 and 5:45 am, due to which the rail traffic was suspended for three hours and restored again at 9:00 am.
No casualty was reported, as the blasts occurred when there was no train scheduled to run between Bin Qasim and Ghotki.
The blasts affected several sites in Karachi and Sukkur divisions, damaging tracks that resulted in disruption of rail traffic.
According to Pakistan Railways Karachi Division Superintendent Zafrullah Kalhoro, following the blasts, Zikria Express and Farid Express, which were heading towards Karachi from upcountry, were stopped at Sadiqabad Railway Station, whereas Awam Express, Hazara Express and Pak Business Express departed for upcountry after a delay of over five hours.
Kalhoro said Awam Express was stopped at Karachi Cantonment Railway Station and Hazara Express at Landhi Station.
He said Sukkur Express and Pakistan Express leaving from Karachi were also allowed to run on their respective tracks after the railroads were put back in working condition.
Karakorum Express running from Karachi to Lahore was also allowed to resume its service from Hyderabad, where the train was stopped after the explosions, he added.
Kalhoro said Bolan Express also faced a delay of many hours in reaching Karachi from Quetta.
Besides, he added, the trains running from upcountry to down country were also stopped at various junctions after the explosions.
He said small blasts on railway tracks have been occurring for the past two years, but no casualty resulted in Saturday’s volley of explosions.
He also said Pakistan Railways high-ups visited the Central Police Office (CPO) in Karachi to apprise Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Ahmed Shah of the security situation, Shah was not available.
In the absence of the IGP, Additional IGP Akhtar Ghorchani received the delegation of the Pakistan Railways.
They discussed joint patrolling at the railway tracks in the province and the early arrest of the masterminds of the current as well as last year’s bombings.
Ghorchani asked deputy inspector generals to take emergency steps for arresting the culprits involved in the bombings.
He also assured the delegation of joint patrolling with the Railways Police near the railway tracks to avoid any blast in future.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has also directed the law-enforcement agencies to arrest the people responsible for Saturday’s blasts.
According to Karachi Railway Police SSP Muzaffar Sheikh, “Two blasts occurred between Bin Qasim and Pipri railway stations, two between Kotri and Hyderabad, one between Balari and Kotri, and one in Latifabad.”
Sheikh said the blasts damaged up to two feet of railway tracks in all the affected sites, but it would be premature to state whether the blasts occurred due to remote-controlled bombs or timer bombs.
Pakistan Railways Sukkur Division Superintendent said, “Two blasts occurred between Pad Edan and Bhirya Road, two between Nawabshah and Sarhari railway stations, one between Mirpur and Sarhad, one between Mehrabpur and Setharja, one between Bandhi and Daur, and one between Sarhari and Lando railway stations.”
The low-intensity blasts not only damaged the railway tracks, but also caused a heavy loss to the Pakistan Railways, which is already facing an incomparable financial crisis.
Sources in the Pakistan Railways said such incidents are damaging the infrastructure of the Pakistan Railways, which is already in an appalling condition following the devastating floods in the past two years.
According to a report on losses suffered by the Pakistan Railways in the torrential rains and unprecedented floods in 2010, the railway infrastructure (including bridges, tracks and buildings) was badly damaged in all four provinces of the country.
The report stated that the total value of assets damaged during the 2010 flood was estimated at Rs 6.395 billion, whereas in the 2011 flood, the Pakistan Railways suffered a loss of Rs 247.237 million, mainly in Sindh.
Besides, the report added, the frequent damage to railway tracks, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, was also causing further delay in the arrival and departure of trains, which are already facing a delay of up to 15 hours.
Pakistan Railways Workers Union Chairman Manzoor Razi said the authorities concerned have failed to stop such incidents, despite the fact that these blasts could also take human lives, as thousands of passengers travel daily by trains.
Razi appealed to those involved in these incidents to stop damaging railway installations, which are used by the underprivileged people of the country.
“This is not the way to express your differences, or pressing issues or demands, if any,” he added.
Another labour leader Muqaddar Zaman condemned the incident, saying that such actions would cause further losses to the Pakistan Railways.
