Several passengers were injured when the Shalimar Express, en route from Karachi to Lahore, derailed in the wee hours of Wednesday near Darul Ehsan, a suburban area of Faisalabad.
Eyewitnesses stated that the trolley became trapped on the railway line shortly before the train arrived.
On seeing the train approach, the driver quickly unpinned the trolley from the tractor and fled with the tractor, leaving the trolley behind.
The train crashed into the trolley, which was loaded with bricks, causing it to veer nearly one kilometre off the track as multiple carriages derailed and overturned.
Both the train’s driver and assistant driver sustained injuries in the crash.
The railway line between Sahiwal and Salarwala was severely damaged, leading to the complete suspension of rail traffic between Faisalabad, Lahore, and Wazirabad.
Police and rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene and launched a rescue operation.
