Lahore, July 3, 2020: At least 19 Sikh pilgrims were killed and at least 8 people were injured after a passenger bus they were travelling in collided with a passenger train on Friday, reported Pakistani media citing officials.
The coaster was carrying Sikh pilgrims, who were reportedly returning from Nankana Sahib in Punjab, reported Geo News citing rescue officials. The accident took place at a train crossing without a barrier.
The destroyed van in which the dead and injured were travelling
Earlier District Police Officer Sheikhupura Ghazi Salahuddin, was quoted in Geo News as saying that 15 pilgrims lost their lives as the Lahore-bound Shah Hussain Express train from Karachi met with an accident near Farooqabad railway station.
Meanwhile, according to Dawn, at least eight people were injured in the accident. All of them have been shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Sheikhupura, according to Rescue 1122 officials.
The Dawn report citing a statement by Railway Ministry said the accident took place near Sheikhpura.
According to the injured passengers, their van driver was at fault as he didn't wait for the train to cross.
"There were three other vans which were ahead of our van and they were waiting for the train to pass but our driver went ahead and tried to cross the rail track and at that very moment the train appeared and rammed into the van," a passenger said.