Sukkur rail disaster
| Sukkur rail disaster | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | January 4, 1990 |
| Location | Sukkur |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Rail line | Multan to Karachi |
| Operator | Pakistan Railways |
| Type of incident | collision |
| Cause | Incorrectly set points |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Deaths | 307 |
| Injuries | 700 |
The Sukkur rail disaster occurred on January 4, 1990 in the village of Sangi near Sukkur in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. 307 people were killed, making it Pakistan's worst rail disaster.[1]
The train concerned (Bahauddin Zakaria Express) was on a 500-mile overnight run from Multan to Karachi and was carrying many more passengers in its 16 carriages than its 1408 seat capacity. It was supposed to pass straight through the village of Sangi but incorrectly set rail points sent it into a siding where it collided with an empty 67-car freight train at a speed of at least 35 mph. The first three carriages were destroyed and the next two badly damaged; 307 people were killed and 700 injured.
The investigation found railway staff to be 'directly responsible' for the disaster. Three staff on duty at Sangi station were charged with manslaughter.[2]
Sources
- At Least 210 Die in Pakistan's Worst Rail Crash from The New York Times
- An improperly set railroad switch is blamed for the early morning collision from the Los Angeles Times
References
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