Pakistan Defence

SHEIKHUPURA: At least 12 people were killed and four injured Saturday when a train collided with a motorcycle rickshaw at a railway crossing near Khanpur village in Sheikupura, about 40 kilometres from Lahore.

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The dead included women and at least two children.

“The accident occurred in Khanpur town of district Sheikhupura, around 40 kilometres northwest of Lahore,” said Salim Niazi, a local police official.

According to rescue officials, the train was on its way from Faislabad to Lahore when the rickshaw driver attempted to cross it from an unmanned level crossing near Khanpur.

Police said that the motorcycle rickshaw was crammed with 16 people and drove onto the train track moments before the Lahore bound train passed through, smashing into it.

The crossing was reported to have no barriers. “There was no gate at this crossing, (nor) a man to stop the traffic to clear way for the train,” said Niazi.

12 people died on the spot while four others received serious injuries.

The injured were shifted to the DHQ Hospital by rescue workers where their condition was stated to be critical.