Shalimar Express coaches derail near Lahore, no casualties

The Shalimar Express, traveling from Lahore to Karachi, derailed near Shahdara area of Punjab’s Lahore disctrict on Thursday, causing three of its coaches to go off track.The derailment, which took place near Barkat Town, narrowly avoided a major catastrophe, a local news channel reported.The train, instead of toppling into a populated area, got stuck in the middle of a bridge, preventing further damage.Following the incident, train operations between Lahore and Faisalabad have been suspended, causing disruptions for passengers and freight movement.Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the site to assist in recovery efforts. Railway staff and police arrived to assess the damage and manage the situation.CEO of Railways, Ameer Ali Baloch, has ordered an investigation into the derailment.According to railway officials, the accident was triggered by the breaking of an old wooden track, which had been in use for nearly 200 years. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.Railway authorities have come under criticism for their negligence in maintaining the aging track infrastructure, which played a crucial role in the accident. Efforts are underway to restore train services as soon as possible.