Staff Reporter:
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QUETTA:
The train service was resumed after seven months from Quetta to other parts of the country on Saturday morning. The collapse of the ancient Hirak bridge in the Bolan Mountains caused the suspension of the train service.
Also Read: British-built bridge collapsed
Governor Balochistan, Malik Abdul Wali Kakar inaugurated the train service at the Quetta Railway Station. The first passenger train i.e Jaffar Express after seven months left Quetta Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The train was carrying 850 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar.
“Our technical staff made hectic efforts to make sure of timely reconstruction of the bridge”, Fareed Ahmed
“Our technical staff made hectic efforts to make sure of timely reconstruction of the bridge”, Fareed Ahmed, the Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways said.
Flash floods unleashed by heavy rainfall caused the collapse of the ancient bridge constructed in the 1880s by the English rulers in August 2022.
Govt committed to facilitate passengers: Governor
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor of Balochistan, Malik Abdul Wali Kakar said the present government was committed to facilitating the passengers and that was the reason that the bridge was constructed in a short span of time.
“We will improve the train service”, Malik Wali Kakar said. He urged the railway officers and staff to support the passengers and improve service.
The DS Railway Fareed Ahmed informed reporters that a special Eid train would leave from Quetta to Rawalpindi on April 18. He said all necessary arrangements were made for the train to facilitate the people trying to reach their homes on the eve of Eid ul Fitr.
Security was tight
Strict security measures were adopted by the administrations of the concerned districts to avoid the occurrence of any untoward incident on the railway tracks. Militants in the past have repeatedly targeted railway tracks and passenger trains in the Bolan mountains and other districts en route to Sindh and Punjab.
