Politicians express deep grief over Tezgam tragedy

RAHIM YAR KHAN (92 News) – Political leaders on Thursday have expressed their deep sorrow on the Tezgam tragedy, in which at least 73 passengers were killed and several injured when train caught fire near the city area of Liaquatpur in Rahim Yar Khan. The prominent political leaders including Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has expressed profound grief and condoled with bereaved families who lost precious life of their love ones. He also directed the authorities to provide best medical facilities to the injured. Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also expressed grief over the loss of precious lives and prayed for early recovery of the injured. Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed expressed tremendous grief and sorrow on the harrowing incident and condoled those whose loved ones have died or are injured due to the fact. He ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the root cause along with details of the officers that allowed gas cylinders on board the train. The minister has demanded the preliminary inquiry report within 24 hours. According to the reports, several passengers burnt alive as three bogies of Tezgam Express caught fire near Talwari Station in Liaquatpur area. “Liaquatpur train accident death toll rises to 65,” confirmed by Director Emergency Rescue 1122 Baqir Hussain. Director Emergency Victoria Hospital Aamir Bukhari said that emergency has been imposed at Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital. He added that the Victoria Hospital has 35 beds for emergency. District Police Officer (DPO) Sardar Muhmmad Ameer Taimour Khan confirmed the death of 46 people during the train fire incident. He said that the bodies are being shifted to the THQ Liaquatpur hospital. The coach where the cylinder blasted was booked by the Taleeghi Jamaat’s men. They were boiling eggs on the gas stove to have breakfast when it exploded with a huge blast. After the blast, the raging fire engulfed two other coaches also. The ten vehicles of firefighters and Rescue 1122 reached at the spot and started the operation to extinguish the fire. The affected bogies have been separated from the train. The emergency was imposed all over the district hospitals. The wounded persons has been shifted to the THQ Liaquatpur, RHC Chani Goth and Bahawalpur Victoria hospitals.