A truck struck a train of the Pakistan Express at an unmanned crossing between Shorkot and Chutiana on Friday. No causality was reported in the accident which happened early in the morning, but the train was slightly damaged.
The line was later cleared later but the collision resulted in a delay of the train at Shorkot for two and a half hours and of another Karakoram Express train for 20 minutes.
The accident reportedly happened due to the negligence of the truck driver who tried to cross the tracks and misjudged just how close the train was.
A press release by Pakistan Railways said that unmanned level crossings are not the responsibility of railway authorities. It also requested people to remain careful while crossing unmanned crossings.
In order to ensure the safety of train operations, Pakistan Railways in 2013 conducted surveys for the up-gradations of existing unmanned level crossings in collaboration with provincial and local district governments which identified vulnerable unmanned level crossings all the provinces.
In Punjab about 75 unmanned level crossings have been upgraded and are now manned by railway authorities.
