Pakistan: Floods force suspension of train operations on five sections in Punjab

Lahore [Pakistan], September 6 (ANI): Train operations on five rail sections in Punjab have been suspended due to damage caused to railway tracks and infrastructure by ongoing floods and heavy rains in the province, Dawn reported.

According to an internal report compiled by the Pakistan Railways (PR) and cited by Dawn, the Narowal-Sialkot section has remained closed since August 27 after floodwater breached a portion of the track. The report said a Girder Span of bridge No 7 near Aik Nullah was also misaligned, allowing floodwater to maintain a high level and overtop the track. Repair works are underway and operations are expected to resume by September 12.

The PR report further noted that the Chak Jhumra-Shaheenabad (Sargodha) section was closed for rail traffic on August 29 when an "exceptionally high flood damaged bridge No 132 & 134 near Chiniot." Efforts are ongoing to repair or reconstruct the bridge to restore train operations, it added, according to Dawn.

Similarly, the Wazirabad-Sialkot section was closed on September 3 after floodwater overtopped the track between Wazirabad-Sodhra Kopra. The Jhang-Shaheenabad section has also been shut since August 28 after flooding breached an area near the Rivaz Railway Bridge over the river Chanab. "The floodwater is still passing through the breached section, as the train traffic remains suspended," the report stated.

Dawn further reported that the Khanewal-Shorkot section was closed on September 3 due to high flood levels at Abdul Hakim Bridge No 27 and breaches between Abdul Hakim and Darkana stations. Temporary disruptions were also recorded at Shahdra-Faisalabad, Lahore-Badami Bagh, Uggoki-Sialkot, Port Qasim-Bin Qasim, Kotri-Dadu, Tando Adam-Hyderabad, and Peshawar Saddar-Cant sections due to flooding, embankment cuts, mudslides, and fallen trees, the PR document noted.

Meanwhile, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) also reported widespread damage to its infrastructure. "As many as 73,724 consumers suffered power disruptions, and of them, 13,073 are still without electricity," Lesco Chief Executive Officer Ramzan Butt said in a statement, as quoted by Dawn. He added, "The floods have affected our infrastructure. But our teams worked day and night to restore power supply to the flood-affected areas. Still, 17 per cent of the total 73,724 consumers are affected."

Dawn reported that Lesco's jurisdiction covers Lahore, Kasur, Nankana, Okara and Sheikhupura, where 67 11kV feeders were affected, of which 55 have been re-energised. In Kasur and Okara, cables and other infrastructure were damaged, while several parts of Lahore also faced issues.

Massive losses were also reported in areas under the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco). "In Bajwat, a rural area of Sialkot, the residents of 85 villages are without electricity since Aug 26," an official from Sialkot told Dawn. (ANI)

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