At least 15 people, including a woman and two children, were killed today when a moving train crushed a packed motorcycle rickshaw at a railway crossing in Pakistan's Punjab province.
The motorcycle rickshaw carrying 16 people was passing through the unmanned railway crossing in Sheikhupura, about 40 kilometres from here, when it was hit by a Lahore-bound train coming from Karachi, rescue work spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI.
He said 10 of the rickshaw riders died on the spot while the remaining, including the driver, were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura where five of them succumbed to their injuries. One survivor is said to be in a critical condition.
The dead include two children and a woman.
Sajjad, quoting witnesses, said the rickshaw was stuck on the track when the train reached there. No gate is installed at the crossing and the motorists fearlessly cross the railway line.
Railway Police have registered a case against the rickshaw driver for 'careless driving'. The driver also lost his life in the accident.
Railways Minister Saad Rafiq said unnecessary unmanned railway crossing would be closed. The government announced Rupees 500,000 compensation for each victim.
"Very sad to hear this. Immediate investigation and remedy being sought," Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted about the accident from China, where he is on a visit as part of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's entourage.
