Train-bus collision in Pak kills 21 Sikhs

ISLAMABAD: At least 21 Sikh pilgrims died on Friday afternoon when a train hit the coach they were travelling in at a railway crossing near Sheikhupura in Punjab.

Police said 25 to 26 people were travelling in the coach, out of whom 20 had been killed in the accident. The victims include women and children. The Shah Hussain Express collided with the bus carrying the pilgrims, who were on their way back to Peshawar after a visit to Nankana Sahib - where they had gone to visit relatives. The convoy comprised two more coaches. Both had another route and were safe.

A local police official said that the crossing gate was closed but the driver of the coach may have carried on driving instead of waiting at the crossing, resulting in the deadly accident.

Pakistan Railways spokesperson said railway and district rescue teams had been rushed to the scene of the crash.

The injured were moved to Sheikhupura Hospital, with some reported to be in critical condition. Sardar Amir Singh, secretary-general of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, said the deceased belong to three or four families.

Later, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed condolences in a post on Twitter, adding that he had “directed that proper medical care be provided to the injured”.