Pak railway not to lock Samjhauta coaches anymore

ISLAMABAD: With victims of Samjhauta Express blasts blaming 'sealed doors' of the coaches for the high casualty, Pakistani railway officials have decided not to lock the entryways of the train from Lahore to Wagah.

It was also decided at a meeting of senior officials of the Railways and Pakistan Rangers that Rangers will take over the security of the train from local police.

The doors of passenger coaches will not be locked either from inside or outside, as has been the practice so far, a Pakistan Railway official said.

The decision was taken as most of the survivors of the two coaches which caught fire after the blasts on Sunday night complained of difficulties in breaking open the doors or opening the emergency doors.

The rangers will take over the security of the train from Thursday between Lahore and Wagah and will also ensure that the number of passengers is not more than the seating capacity, Dawn reported.

Rangers will check coaches of the train and luggage of the passengers at Lahore and guard and escort the train up to Wagah.

The meeting which was held in Lahore also decided to ask the authorities to expedite the pace of development works at the Wagah railway station to ensure essential facilities for the passengers.