More seats on Samjhauta Express

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have reportedly decided to increase the number of passengers on the Samjhauta Express from 576 to 750 to accommodate the increasing demands for tickets for travelling between the two countries.

The Pakistani and Indian railway authorities have decided to hike the maximum number of passengers on the Samjhauta Express from 576 to 750, sources were quoted in the media as saying on Monday.

Sources said that the decision has been taken following pressure from passengers who insist that the authorities issue them tickets. The railway authorities of the two countries have decided that an increase of 174 passengers would help resolve the issue.

Pakistan Railways has requested the Indian authorities to induct two additional passenger coaches with the Samjhauta Express to accommodate the increasing number of passengers travelling between the two countries, Lahore Divisional Superintendent Muhammad Khalid was quoted as saying in the Daily Times on Monday, adding that the two sides would maintain and share passengers record.

At least 68 people were killed in a fire that engulfed the Samjhauta Express after blasts in the train in the northern Indian state of Haryana last month.

Two carriages of the train were completely destroyed while it was on its way from the Indian capital New Delhi to Lahore in Pakistan via the border crossing point of Wagah.