LODHRAN: At least seven children were killed while five others sustained critical injuries as a speeding train rammed into school rickshaw at a railway crossing in Lodhran.
The incident took place when a school rickshaw was crushed trying to pass through Jalalpur’s by Hazara Express.
The children killed in the crash were aged six to 10, District Police Officer Lodhran Asad Sarfraz was quoted of saying a news channel. He added that the gate at the crossing was open at the time of the accident, meaning traffic on the road could cross the railway tracks.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said an inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the Lodhran train accident which will submit its initial report within 48 hours.
Talking to newsmen in Lahore, he said driver, assistant driver of the train and the gate keepers are in police custody.
In September last year, at least four people were killed and 93 injured when an express train crashed into a freight train near Multan.
In November, 22 people were killed and dozens were injured when a train crashed into stationary coaches in the port city of Karachi.
In July 2015, at least 17 people were killed when a special military train fell into a canal after a bridge partially collapsed. News Desk