By Muhammad Luqman
At least 20 Pakistani Sikh pilgrims returning from Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib were killed when the driver of the minibus they were traveling by, tried to take a shortcut to avoid a shut railway level crossing and rammed the vehicle into a passenger train in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Friday, according to media reports.
The mini-bus carrying around 26 Sikh pilgrims, all from Pakistan’s north-western city of Peshawar, hit the Shah Hussain Express which was coming from Karachi to Lahore at a crossing near Jatri Road in Sheikhupura district at around 1.30 pm, police said.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, at least eight people were injured in the accident, all of whom were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Sheikhupura.
The gate at the railway level crossing was closed and the driver apparently tried to take a shortcut instead of waiting for the gate to open, senior police officer Ghazi Salahuddin told reporters at the crash site.
“Twenty passengers died that included women and children,” he said.
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) spokesperson Amir Hashmi said the mini- bus was carrying mostly Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad in the district.
“They had come to Nankana Sahib from Peshawar. After staying in Nanakana Sahib, they were leaving for Peshawar. The ETPB security had escorted them till the limits of Nankana Sahib,” he said.
Police have denied reports that the crossing was unmanned.
Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Dost Ali Laghari has constituted a committee comprising three senior officers to investigate the incident. It will present its initial report by Saturday “so that it can be determined which side was at fault”, according to a Pakistan Railways press release.
“Action will be taken in accordance with the law against whoever is held responsible for this accident,” the Railway’s statement said.
The rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to the district headquarters’ hospital, a statement by the Railways Ministry said.
The railways said a divisional superintendent has been suspended from service and an inquiry has been initiated.
Pakistan’s Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has ordered authorities to take immediate action against those responsible for the accident.
Deeply saddened at the accident this afternoon at a railway crossing near Sheikhupura which resulted in the death of atleast 20 people, mainly Sikh pilgrims returning from Nankana Sahib. Have directed that proper medical care be provided to the injured.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 3, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed grief over the accident and directed authorities to provide the best medical aid to the injured.
“My condolences and prayers go to the families of the deceased. [I] have directed relevant authorities to ensure facilitation and care for all the families,” he said, noting that at least 20 people were killed.
The news of tragic death of 15 Sikh Yatris in a collision of a wagon with a train near Sheikhupura is saddening. I extend my most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families on their irreparable loss.
— President PMLN (@president_pmln) July 3, 2020
Opposition leader in lower house of Pakistan’s parliament and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif said the news of the Sikh pilgrims’ death in the accident was “saddening”.
“I extend my most sincere sympathies to the bereaved families on their irreparable loss,” he tweeted.
