A tragic incident unfolded at Khanewal Railway Station on Friday when a pedestrian bridge collapsed, claiming the life of a railway staff member and injuring a woman. Rescue officials confirmed the casualties and stated that the injured woman has been shifted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care.
According to railway sources, the pedestrian bridge had been in place since before the formation of Pakistan and had not seen any major repairs or upgrades in decades. The incident has raised serious concerns about the condition of aging railway infrastructure across the country.
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Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi swiftly responded by suspending three key officials: Divisional Engineer Abid Razzaq (Grade-18), Assistant Engineer Raja Yousuf (Grade-17), and Bridge Inspector Muhammad Adil (Grade-16). The minister has promised accountability and immediate corrective measures.
A high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to investigate the collapse. It includes senior officials such as the CEO of Railways, the IG of Railways, and DS Lahore. CEO Amir Ali Baloch has already reached Khanewal to personally monitor the situation and the ongoing inquiry.
