Train driver, assistant booked for manslaughter in train tragedy

In a fresh development related to Thursday's collision between two trains near the Landi Railway Station close to Karachi, the driver of the train and his assistant have been booked for manslaughter.

It may be recalled that 22 people were killed and 63 others were injured in the collision between Zakaria Express and Fareed Express.

Police said the driver and his assistant have been booked on manslaughter and rash driving charges.

The Dawn quoted Quaidabad police as saying that cases have been filed against Bahauddin Zakaria, Mohammed Rafiq and Atif.

The case has been registered under Sections 320 (punishment for qatl-i-khata by rash or negligent driving), 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab), 337 (Shajjah), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 101 of the Railways Act.

No one has been arrested so far.

Meanwhile, the head of the emergency department of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Dr Seemin Jamali, was quoted, as saying that initially 19 people, including six women and a child, were brought dead. She added that three more people had died in hospital thereafter.