Unforgivable train tragedy.

Byline: Rehman malik

I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the victim families of this incident. May God bless the departed souls in peace, Ameen.

The whole nation has gone into shock over the news of this unfortunate tragedy of train near Liaqatpur, Rahim yar Khan which has taken above 76 lives leaving 40 injured.

It is yet to be determined if this tragedy is an innocent mistake of using a gas cylinder inside a train or it was a deliberate act of terrorism or sabotage.

It needs to be thoroughly investigated but whatever the cause maybe, there should have been emergency backup for the safe escape of the passengers in times of such unexpected tragedies. I would like to point out some lapse which should have been part of the SOP for the Pakistan Railway for the safety of the passengers.

1. The scrutiny/ screening of the baggage of the train passengers should have been ensured the way it is done at the airports so that nobody is allowed to take inflammable items i.e. gas cylinder and other petroleum product etc. inside the train.

2. Railway station master with the help of railway police should have ensured to screen and should have disallowed such items.

3. There should be SOP set-up for railway as well in order to assist passengers in time of difficulty, danger or distress.

4. All train drivers must be connected with each other through official mob phone to Railway HQ and the said phone number should be displayed in every boggy.

5. The old way of pulling the chain to stop the train is gone obsolete hence it should be discarded and a new and efficient way should be introduced.

6. Safety should be ensured for passengers like other countries where the train journey is the most secured one but unfortunately it has proven to be the worst in our country where people feel unsecured to travel by train.

7. All future trains should be fire proof and with built-in safety measures.

8. Proper communication between the driver of train and Railway Guards and passengers must be ensured.

9. The present railway minister must ensure that the above measures are taken to safeguard the lives of train passengers.

10. The maintenance of inside of the train as well as the track should be made certain in order to keep the train running smoothly and safely.

    This incident has reminded me of the terrorist act of Samjhota express in 2007 in which above 70 people had died and 50 were injured. Most of the people who had died were 75 Pakistani civilians killed in India and...