7 schoolchildren killed by train in Pakistan accident

By Aamir latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least eight people, including seven schoolchildren were killed when two motorized rickshaws were hit by a speeding train in northeastern Pakistan's Punjab province on Friday, according to local media quoting the Pakistani railways minister.

The accident took place in Lodhran district, located some 700 kilometers (435 miles) off the capital Islamabad, when the children were on their way to school.

A rickshaw driver was among the dead; six others were also injured.

Dunya news network quoting a statement from the railways said the rickshaws carrying the students had apparently misjudged the speed of a train at a crossing.

Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said two gate keepers at the crossing who were supposed to be on duty at the time of the accident had been arrested along with the train drivers.

Pakistan has a history of train accidents mainly because of poor safety standards and mismanagement.

By Aamir latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

The accident took place in Lodhran district, located some 700 kilometers (435 miles) off the capital Islamabad, when the children were on their way to school.

A rickshaw driver was among the dead; six others were also injured.

Dunya news network quoting a statement from the railways said the rickshaws carrying the students had apparently misjudged the speed of a train at a crossing.

Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said two gate keepers at the crossing who were supposed to be on duty at the time of the accident had been arrested along with the train drivers.

Pakistan has a history of train accidents mainly because of poor safety standards and mismanagement.