Jaffar Express Derailment Near Rawalpindi Station
The Jaffar Express derailment near Rawalpindi on Friday left two coaches and the power van off the track and briefly halted rail traffic on a major route. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.
The power van and two coaches of the Jaffar Express (40 Down), travelling from Peshawar to Quetta, came off the track near Noor Railway Station, about one kilometre from Rawalpindi Railway Station. An inquiry into the incident has been initiated, with divisional officers tasked with investigating the matter and submitting a report.
Jaffar Express derailment: what happened
Divisional Superintendent Railways Rawalpindi Noorud Din Dawar said the power van, which was the last coach of the train, derailed near Noor Railway Station. The power van supplies electricity for lights, fans and air conditioning in the coaches, so a train cannot run normally once it leaves the track.
Rail traffic was temporarily suspended after the derailment. The obstruction was cleared shortly afterwards and train operations resumed. The derailed coaches were detached from the train, while the remaining coaches were sent on to Rawalpindi Railway Station.
Dawar and other officers reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation. No passengers were hurt.
A busy route between two provinces
The Jaffar Express runs between Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Quetta in Balochistan, passing through Rawalpindi. It is one of the main long-distance services linking the two provincial capitals, and Rawalpindi is a key junction on its route.
Derailments on this corridor disrupt more than one train. Services behind the Jaffar Express must wait while the track is cleared, and the inquiry will look at the condition of the track and rolling stock near Noor Railway Station.
A false alarm a day earlier
The derailment came a day after a separate scare on the railways. On Thursday, the Counter Terrorism Department Rawalpindi and Cantt police acted after an unidentified woman called police emergency helpline 15 from a mobile phone and reported suspicious people aboard the Khyber Mail train.
The information was passed to the Railway Police Rawalpindi, and the train was stopped at Khanpur Railway Station and searched. Nothing suspicious was found. Police traced the woman who made the call, took her into custody and questioned her. Officers later said she was mentally ill and moved her to the Edhi Centre in Islamabad.
Cantt police registered a report stating that the call had come in at around 12:30pm on Thursday. The caller had reported that a woman had told police some suspicious people were travelling on a train heading towards Peshawar.
What happens next
The inquiry ordered after the derailment will establish what caused the power van and two coaches to leave the track. Divisional officers have been asked to investigate and submit a report. Until its findings are known, the exact cause remains open.
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Frequently asked questions
Where did the Jaffar Express derail?
The power van and two coaches derailed near Noor Railway Station in Rawalpindi, about one kilometre from Rawalpindi Railway Station, on Friday.
Was anyone hurt in the derailment?
No. No casualties or injuries were reported. The derailed coaches were detached and the remaining coaches were sent to Rawalpindi Railway Station.
Which train was involved?
The Jaffar Express (40 Down), travelling from Peshawar to Quetta. The power van, the last coach of the train, was among the vehicles that derailed.
Did rail traffic stop?
Yes, briefly. Rail traffic was temporarily suspended after the derailment, but the obstruction was cleared shortly afterwards and train operations resumed.
What caused the derailment?
An inquiry has been initiated and divisional officers have been tasked with investigating the matter and submitting a report. The cause has not yet been established.
